Grasshoppers are common insects found across many landscapes. They are primarily herbivores, meaning they eat plant material. Leaves form a significant portion of their diet.
The Primary Diet: Leaves and Beyond
Grasshoppers predominantly feed on a wide variety of plant materials, with leaves making up the bulk of their diet. They prefer tender, young foliage and grasses, including agricultural crops such as wheat, corn, rye, barley, and alfalfa. Beyond grasses, they also consume leaves from broadleaf plants, vegetables like lettuce, spinach, carrots, and beans, and even the foliage of shrubs and young trees.
While leaves are their staple, grasshoppers also feed on other plant parts, including stems, flowers, and seeds. Under conditions where preferred plant matter is scarce, some species may opportunistically consume less nutritious items like moss, fungi, or even bark. Although primarily herbivorous, some grasshopper species have been observed to occasionally consume non-plant matter such as dead insects or animal dung, especially when plant food is limited.
How Grasshoppers Feed
Grasshoppers possess specialized chewing mouthparts adapted for processing tough plant fibers. Their strong mandibles, scissor-like jaws, cut and grind plant material from side to side. These mandibles feature sharp edges for cutting and flatter surfaces or ridges for grinding, allowing them to efficiently break down leaves and stems.
The mouthparts also include maxillae, which assist in manipulating food as it is chewed. This chewing mechanism allows grasshoppers to consume large pieces of vegetation, a distinct feeding style compared to insects that pierce and suck plant fluids. This adaptation enables them to process a high volume of fibrous plant matter, supporting their energy needs.
Impact on Plants and Gardens
Grasshopper feeding habits can have a substantial impact on plants and gardens, especially when their populations are high. Visible signs of their activity include ragged holes and notched edges on leaves, and in severe cases, complete defoliation. Young plants and emerging crops are particularly vulnerable to damage, which can lead to stunted growth or even plant death.
Large populations of grasshoppers can cause significant economic losses in agriculture by damaging valuable crops like grains, vegetables, and forage. While an individual grasshopper consumes relatively little, their collective feeding can devastate entire fields or gardens. During outbreaks, these insects can move from drying rangelands into irrigated areas, posing a considerable threat to cultivated landscapes and leading to millions of dollars in annual damage.