Size
The species range in size from about 1 inch long to almost 3 inches long.

Color
Grasshoppers range in color from green to brown to black. Adults have fully developed wings that are held, at rest, roof-like over the abdomen. The front wings are narrow and long, while the hind wings are very wide and often colorful, with blue, red, orange, or yellow bands on them.

Habits
Grasshoppers can walk, hop and fly. Female grasshoppers “sing” by rubbing their legs against their wings, or by making an audible snapping sound with their wings while flying. They like to hide in areas with tall grasses, small vacant lots and gardens. Most grasshoppers are very destructive to plants. They sometimes undergo enormous population outbreaks, making mass migrations in search of food. Grasshoppers rarely enter structures, but can become very damaging to urban landscaped areas when populations explode.

Diet
Grasshoppers are herbivorous and feed on plants.

Reproduction
Females deposit egg pods a few inches into the soil using their ovipositor. One egg pod contains several dozens tightly packed eggs that look like rice grains. The eggs stay in place through the winter, and hatch when the weather has warmed up. The first nymph to hatch tunnels up through the ground and the rest follow.

Other Information
Grasshoppers are around in spring and summer, but are most abundant in the fall. In the summer and fall, grasshoppers often flutter and fly into porch lights. In Africa, very large species are prone to population surges, and are referred to as Locust Swarms.