Up Close & Personal With Grasshoppers

Meet Pelvis, The Grasshopper

Elvis was the first grasshopper we found eating our bean plant leaves. We caught it. It was big. Dad said it needed space to jump, so we released it.

Then came Pelvis. He was a lot smaller when mum captured it. He tried to leap but its hind leg was caught by the edge of the container. The hind limb ripped off! Mum felt very bad and decided to keep it as a pet.

It ate like mad. And moulted three times! Here's the "shell" from its second moult.
It was amazing! The shell was exactly Pelvis, minus one missing limb. Even the antennae were there! Also, it always emerged so much larger!

Here's the last moult. It's missing limb did not grow back again. It had a funny green blob on one of its wings. It turned out very different looking.


Mum said since its wings were out, it was time to release it. Pelvis should be looking for a mate.

It was really cool watching Pelvis! Best science lesson on life cycle of a grasshopper!


p.s We did not even know grasshoppers pooped but yes, Pelvis pooped a lot!