Grasshopper Pictures

Orthoptera: Grasshopper Pictures American Bird Grasshopper Cricket Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Horse Lubber Grasshopper Obscure Bird Grasshopper Red Grasshopper Fork-tailed Bush Katydid Mountain-dwelling Short-winged Katydid Short-winged Grasshopper Swarming Locusts Types of Insects

The Order Orthoptera consists of the Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids, with the grasshoppers divided into families of the Suborder Caelifera and the crickets and katydids divided into families of the Suborder Ensifera

Many of the literally hundreds of different Orthoptera species are considered agricultural pests, making Orthoptera research a popular field in entomology.

When it comes to identification, most people think short antenna and brown or green body when they think grasshopper. While partially correct, many grasshopper species have colorful bodies.

As the name suggests, grasshoppers are excellent jumpers. They can also fly, which provides them with the mobility to easily move from one feeding area to the next.

Green bodies and long antenna serve as the dominant katydid characteristics, although there are some circumstances where katydids change body color to blend in with their background. Their long antennas explain their nicknames, long-horned grasshoppers.

Crickets generally buck the label of Orthoptera agricultural pests. Their dark body (brown or black) and long antenna, serve as the initial rules of thumb for field identification.

The links in the box on the right point to a sample of Orthodtera species.

© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels