Grasshoppers are common insects known for their powerful jumping abilities and their presence in various ecosystems. Their life cycle, like many insects, relies on successful reproduction to ensure the continuation of their species. Understanding how these creatures find partners, mate, and lay eggs provides insight into their natural history and ecological role.
Finding a Mate
Male grasshoppers primarily attract females through acoustic communication, a process known as stridulation. They produce sounds by rubbing their hind femurs against their forewings, or sometimes by rubbing forewings against hind wings. This sound production is species-specific, allowing females to identify potential mates. The calls serve to attract females and may also warn off rival males.
Females possess tympana, eardrum-like structures on their abdomen, enabling them to hear these male calls. While males are the primary sound producers, some female grasshoppers also emit sounds, though these are typically less frequent and much softer. Beyond acoustic signals, some grasshopper species may use visual displays or even pheromones to attract mates. These courtship rituals can involve adopting different poses or flashing brightly colored wings.
The Act of Mating
When a female responds to a male’s calls, the mating process begins in the late summer months. The male, often smaller than the female, mounts her. During copulation, the male inserts his aedeagus, which is the insect equivalent of a penis, into the female’s ovipositor.
The male then passes a packet of sperm, called a spermatophore, into the female. The duration of this process can vary significantly depending on the grasshopper species, ranging from approximately 45 minutes to over a day. Even during copulation, the female may continue to move around, sometimes foraging for food, with the male remaining mounted on her back.
Egg Laying and Development
Following mating, the female grasshopper prepares to lay her eggs. She uses her ovipositor, small pointed structures at the tip of her abdomen, to dig a hole in the ground, often around 10 centimeters deep. The female deposits her eggs in clusters, forming “egg pods”. These eggs are rice-shaped and coated with a sticky substance that helps protect them during dormancy.
The number of eggs laid per pod can vary, with each pod containing 10 to 300 eggs. A single female grasshopper can lay multiple egg pods, sometimes more than ten in a season, with some species laying up to 300 eggs in total. The eggs remain dormant through autumn and winter, hatching into nymphs in the spring or early summer. These newly hatched nymphs are miniature versions of adult grasshoppers, though they lack wings and are generally lighter in color. They begin feeding and undergo a series of molts until they reach adulthood.