Wacky Pest Wednesday: Grasshopper

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Happy Wednesday, Tri-County Pest Control fans!  We’re here with another edition of Wacky Pest Wednesday, and today we invite you to join us as we cover a critter that you’re bound to see this spring: the grasshopper!

Grasshoppers are known as the critter of the spring and summer as they are often out and about once the weather turns warm.  Yet, this is nothing new for them; their lineage goes back all the way to the dinosaurs—some 3oo million years ago! During the time from then until now, grasshoppers have learned to literally catapult themselves into the air to flee from danger, up to some 10 inches in height.  Now, that may not seem that impressive, but remember that most grasshoppers are only about 2 inches long. If we take these ratios and apply them to humans, then the average human should be able to jump around 130 feet—how’s that for wild!

All fun facts aside, grasshoppers are seldom a pest that you need to worry about.  They don’t bite, and unless you are running a farm, there is little damage that they can do to your home.  However, grasshoppers are known to use some self-defense measures; one of which is to spit a brown liquid when they feel threatened.  It doesn’t hurt or sting, but experts believe that it is how grasshoppers defend against predators—it may be icky, but that’s about all that a grasshopper can do to you.

Did you know that grasshoppers are slowly becoming a popular snack across the globe? In many nations (especially in the East), grasshoppers are becoming a common street food.  Yet, don’t be turned off so quickly; grasshoppers are incredibly high in protein and found everywhere, meaning that they are an eco-friendly and nutritious snack. Who knows—maybe grasshoppers carts will pop up in Philadelphia or New York City in the next few years!

Enjoy your Wednesday!

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