Jump+around+with+Acrididae

=__Acrididae__=

About:
The family Acrididae exists withing the order orthoptera and contains most of the known grasshoppers. Locusts are also included in acrididae giving the family a certain amount of infamy as they are one of the largest world wide crop destroyers. Grasshoppers are well known for their elongated body shape and large legs they use for jumping, as well as the stridulation on their abdomens that allows them to produce the loud, obnoxious noises we all know and love. Grasshoppers are more common in tropical climates, but can also be found in far north place.



Diet:
Grasshoppers are commonly know for their herbivorous diets, but they are often omnivores, eating grasses, leaves, cereal, and even small bugs. Almost all grasshoppers are polyphagous meaning they will eat multiple different plants and aren't very picky.

With wings that tuck into their body neatly, grasshoppers are usually seen without their wings extended, and many people aren't even aware of their ability to fly. To the left is an image of a grasshopper with it's wings extended, which are somewhat similar to butterfly wings in appearance. Though uncommon in western culture, locusts and other members of Acrididae are often eaten and seen as a delicacy. They are high in protein and other minerals, and in all very nutritious for their size.
 * Other facts:**

Helpful links: Bug Guide

If you are more interested in cooking grasshoppers, you can check out THIS website.

Sources:

1. JOUR - Suematsu, Shunji - Harano, Ken-ichi - Tanaka, Seiji - Kawaura, Kanako - Ogihara, Yasunari - Watari, Yasuhiko - Saito, Osamu - Tokuda, Makoto - Effects of barley chromosome addition to wheat on behavior and development of Locusta migratoria nymphs - Sci. Rep. - 2013/09/03/online - 3 - Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep02577 - 10.1038/srep02577 - Article - http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130903/srep02577/abs/srep02577.html#supplementary-information

2. Journal Article, 2013, 1001-6538, Chinese Science Bulletin, 58, 26, 10.1007/s11434-013-5867-2, Effects of no mating on the female adults and embryonic development of Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-5867-2, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013-09-01