That Reptile Blog – Reptile, Amphibian and Exotic Pet Care and Information
The Domestic or House Cricket is perhaps the world’s most popular herp food, the closely-related locusts, grasshoppers and katydids have been neglected as a food source here in the USA. However, many are easily collected and bred in captivity, and offer important nutrients lacking in commercially-bred insects. What’s more, they are colorful, active and extremely interesting to work with – don’t be surprised if you begin keeping them as more than just a food item!
Natural History
Grasshoppers, crickets, locusts and katydids are classified in the Order Orthoptera. Over 20,000 species, inhabiting environments ranging from deserts to mountain tops, have been described. The USA is home to 1,000+ species.
Many grasshoppers sport a fantastic array of colors and shapes; some are barely visible to the naked eye, while others, such as New Guinea’s Phyllophora grandis, top 5 inches in length (please see photo of a Hooded Grasshopper). Read More »