Q&A for How to Breed Grasshoppers

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Where do grasshoppers lay eggs?

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist
Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”

Samuel Ramsey, PhD

Entomologist

Expert Answer

Grasshoppers lay eggs in the soil. So you can put some loamy soil in the enclosure where they can lay their eggs.

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Should I get a large cage to keep my grasshoppers?

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist
Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”

Samuel Ramsey, PhD

Entomologist

Expert Answer

Get a cage that has enough space for your grasshoppers to roam. If you keep grasshoppers in a small place, they may get stressed.

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What can I give my grasshopper to eat?

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist
Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”

Samuel Ramsey, PhD

Entomologist

Expert Answer

You can give them leaves of different plants and even lettuce to eat. But do not give them crunchy leaves because they do not like such leaves.

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Are orange grasshoppers rare? Will two different species of grasshoppers breed?

Community Answer

Yes. Orange grasshoppers are rare. And yes, two different grasshopper species will probably breed.

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Is it okay to touch nymphs?

Aaron Crafter69

Community Answer

It depends on their size. If it's no bigger than your pinkie fingernail, then you probably shouldn't.

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Can a plastic container be used for a grasshopper?

Community Answer

Absolutely. As long as they have air, water vapor, and food, they are A-OK!

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Question

Should the females and males be separated after breeding?

Community Answer

Yes. You only keep 2 together to breed them. After that, they should be separated.

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Will grasshoppers legs stop working if they are wet?

Community Answer

No. Grasshoppers can still function when wet.

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Are grasshoppers compatible with crickets?

Community Answer

They could be kept and bred together, but it would make more sense to separate them because they have slightly different care needs.

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How old do grasshoppers have to be to breed?

Community Answer

Grasshoppers only need to be a few weeks old before they can breed.

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How do I know if a grasshopper is pregnant?

Nevaeh.Struck. .RTM.Student

Community Answer

You can tell a female grasshopper is gravid (pregnant) when her abdomen is larger than usual. Try to have less water in the soil that you provide in her cage from then on as grasshoppers lay their eggs in the soil.

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Question

Do I need lots of containers to breed grasshoppers for commercial purposes?

Community Answer

I would keep all adult grasshoppers in one large cage, and instead of keeping substrate in that cage, provide 1-2 small, flat, containers full of dirt. The grasshoppers will lay eggs in the dirt. Every 1-2 weeks, move the egg containers into an empty cage, and wait for them to hatch, then add a fresh egg container into the adult cage.

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Can I keep them in a food container?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as it's been washed thoroughly and is big enough to comfortably hold your grasshopper(s).

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How can I tell the gender of my grasshoppers?

Nevaeh.Struck. .RTM.Student

Community Answer

The female grasshopper has a tapered abdomen. This ends with a pointed egg laying tube, known scientifically as the "ovipositor". The male grasshopper has a more rounded abdomen which turns upward. It is not tapered as with the female.

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Am I able to keep multiple grasshoppers in a large enclosure?

Community Answer

It is recommended to only keep four because if you keep more than that, they may fight over food or become locusts.

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Question

Would a hermit crab cage work?

Community Answer

Yes, that should be big enough.

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Question

If a grasshopper bites me, will it hurt? And will it get me sick?

Tomboypartyanimal

Community Answer

They cannot bite. Their mouths are too small. They will squirt a yellow liquid out of their abdomen if threatened, but do not worry, simply rinse it off with soap, and you will be just fine!

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What grass should I feed my grasshopper?

Community Answer

Look outside your house to find the plants other grasshoppers eat.

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Will a small male grasshopper eat the larger female?

Community Answer

it is highly unlikely, but if the male is very aggressive it could happen. The male would also have to be large for a male grasshopper for it to eat the larger female.

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How will I know when a grasshopper is breeding?

Community Answer

When the male is atop the female. You might see them shaking and twitching while breeding.

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Do grasshoppers shed the hind legs when they are in danger?

Community Answer

No, they don't. Be careful of getting their legs stuck in the lid of the enclosure, as they will not grow back.

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Question

Can grasshoppers eat fresh grass?

Community Answer

Yes, grasshoppers can eat fresh grass. As long as it has not been treated with insecticides, they are fine. You can also feed them lettuce.

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Question

How many eggs does a grasshopper normally lay?

Community Answer

They normally lay about 15-150 eggs depending on the species. It takes about 10 months for them to hatch.

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Question

I’m planning on keeping a large grasshopper, 5” long, in a tall bird cage with bars close enough that he or she can’t escape. Can I put grass with soil at the bottom, so he can eat fresh grass?

Community Answer

Yes, but give him fresh grass every single day. He also needs small droplets of water every day too, and add some sticks and rocks or bark.

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