Grasshoppers play a key role in food webs as both consumers and prey. Their plant-eating behaviour accelerates the transfer of energy and the recycling of nutrients, helping maintain the balance and health of ecosystems. They live in various habitats but are most abundant in lowland tropical forests, semi-arid areas and grasslands. Grasshoppers vary in colour from green to olive or brown and may have yellow or red markings.
In certain regions, people consume grasshoppers as a source of food. They are often dried, jellied, roasted and dipped in honey or ground into a meal.
Predators such as birds, frogs, and snakes control grasshoppers in the wild. People use insecticides and poison baits to prevent them from becoming a pest.
Sources
Thoughtco.com – 10 Fascinating Facts About Grasshoppers
Britannica – Grasshopper – Insect
May 2022, TÄNKOM | Revised February 2024 RETHINK