Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Insect

Grasshopper

Grasshoppers are a group of mostly herbivorous insects in the suborder Caelifera within the order Orthoptera.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Grasshoppers are mostly herbivorous insects in the suborder Caelifera, known for their powerful jumping legs and incomplete metamorphosis. They are common in open habitats worldwide and can become agricultural pests when they swarm.

What it is

Grasshoppers belong to the insect order Orthoptera and suborder Caelifera. They have a three-part body (head, thorax, abdomen), chewing mouthparts, and enlarged hind legs adapted for leaping. About 11,000 species are known, ranging from grasslands to forests and mountains.

Key details

Grasshoppers undergo hemimetabolous development: egg, nymph, and adult, with several moults. Most feed on plants, especially grasses. Some species can form swarms and are then called locusts, causing major crop damage. In Canada, about 140 species are reported, particularly in western grasslands.

Why it matters

Grasshoppers are ecologically important as prey for birds, frogs, and snakes, and as herbivores that shape plant communities. However, a few species are significant agricultural pests, especially during outbreaks. Understanding their life cycle helps manage populations and reduce crop losses.

In short

  • Grasshoppers are jumping insects in suborder Caelifera.
  • They develop through incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult).
  • Most are herbivores; some become locusts and swarm.
  • About 140 species live in Canada, mainly in western grasslands.
Canadian angle

Grasshoppers are found across Canada, with about 140 species reported, and are especially common in the western grasslands. The Canadian Encyclopedia notes that all provinces have grasshoppers, and some species occur in forest clearings and river valleys as far north as Yukon.[6]

Quick questions

What is a grasshopper?
A mostly herbivorous insect in suborder Caelifera, known for jumping with strong hind legs.
Are grasshoppers and locusts the same?
Locusts are grasshopper species that can become gregarious and swarm under certain conditions.
Where do grasshoppers live in Canada?
They are found across Canada, with about 140 species, especially common in western grasslands and as far north as Yukon.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper
    Supports: Suborder Caelifera, anatomy, hemimetabolous development, approximate species count, plant-feeding habits, swarm-related pest status
  2. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/animals/zoology-invertebrates/grasshopper
    Supports: Orthoptera/Caelifera classification, body structure, habitat range
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/grasshopper-insect
    Supports: About 11,000 species, habitats, herbivory, food-web role
  4. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/grasshopper
    Supports: Canadian distribution, number of species in Canada, general biology, relation to locusts