Why no grasshoppers?
- Thread starter dectr6
- Start date
I don't live in the States so I don't know for sure....but I do know that locusts are grasshoppers that go into a swarming phase forming massive swarms that can cause immense destruction to crops and pastures. If I remember correctly overcrowding (which may occur if you are breeding them) can cause them to go into swarm phase....so maybe that has something to do with it?? I do know that some species of grasshoppers don't swarm too...so maybe that's the type they have in the UK?
Hopefully someone else will know for sure what the reason is??
Hopefully someone else will know for sure what the reason is??
christyo2o2
New Member
i thought that crickets and locust were 2 diff. bugs?
RhettusMaximus
New Member
grasshoppers
Yah whoever said that the grasshoppers will overpopulate and swarm was correct. Grasshoppers breed very rapidly and can/will swarm when their numbers are great enough. It would devestate any agriculture they came across including tree farms, soy, corn, wheat, etc.... basically anything green and edible.
Yah whoever said that the grasshoppers will overpopulate and swarm was correct. Grasshoppers breed very rapidly and can/will swarm when their numbers are great enough. It would devestate any agriculture they came across including tree farms, soy, corn, wheat, etc.... basically anything green and edible.
Kent67
Retired Moderator
This was brought up in another thread and I believe it was Lele who informed us that the US Agriculture Dept has a law that grasshopper species may not cross state lines, into states where they are not native. I used to sometimes see grasshopper eggs for sale from biological supply places but haven't looked lately. Might be worth checking with any places like that in your state.
They are two different bugs Christy. I was mainly talking about the availability of grasshoppers or locusts. I just threw in that they also have black crix in the UK for sale online. The grasshopper and locusts are the same bug.
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
There are pretty strict USDA laws about transporting native species over state lines. Particularly pest species.
Basically, it is illegal to sell grasshoppers in the united states.
-Brad
Basically, it is illegal to sell grasshoppers in the united states.
-Brad
So hello. While I am not a chameleon keeper I thought I would pass along some information that you guys (and gals too) might find useful.
First the grasshoppers available in Europe are typically desert locusts within which range (at least for migrations) much of Europe resides. To be sure we do not want them in the US.
Second, the USDA does allow without permits the transportation within the lower 48 many native insects pests. Among them are some of the worst grasshopper pests of the genus Melanoplus like the differential, migratory, and redlegged grasshoppers. Check here:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou...its/plant-pests/330-web-lists/plant-pest-list
These are among only a few grasshoppers that reach outbreak levels in the US. Most grasshoppers in the US follow an annual cycle and produce only one generation a year. The eggs of species that are limited to 1 generation per year typically diapause development and require a cool period to break the diapause. They will hatch the next year when temperatures warm. This makes most less than favorable for cultivation. There are some exceptions like two species of Shistocerca (nitens and americana) which are descended from a progenitor of the desert locust. The migratory grasshopper eggs can also hatch without the diapause. A very interesting grasshopper that may be of use to you guys is a widely dispersed grasshopper called the Greenstriped grasshopper (Chortophaga viridifasciata). It can produce multiple generations annually, will eat cut greens, and might be a good culture species. It is native east of the Rockies for most of the US and can likely be found locally. They can actually survive freezing and are among the first to appear in the spring. These species I've mentioned that have no diapause for eggs are not expressly allowed for transportation without permit. This may be because they were never prohibited to begin with or perhaps other reasons. One thing I can tell you is that they are less commonly associated with crop damage than are are allowed one's that were mentioned. The USDA could tell one if the Greenstriped needs a permit to ship within its range or not.
So grasshopper cultured by or used by pet enthusiasts pose little (if any) threat provided the species cultured/fed are native to the locale. I would encourage any interested to learn about grasshoppers and try your hand at culturing locally available grasshoppers. Below is link to the Greenstriped which will inhabit the locale of most US members and this link is part of broader network of information one might use to learn about the grasshopper ecology.
http://idtools.org/id/grasshoppers/factsheet.php?name=13384
Cheers!
http://idtools.org/id/grasshoppers/factsheet.php?name=13384
First the grasshoppers available in Europe are typically desert locusts within which range (at least for migrations) much of Europe resides. To be sure we do not want them in the US.
Second, the USDA does allow without permits the transportation within the lower 48 many native insects pests. Among them are some of the worst grasshopper pests of the genus Melanoplus like the differential, migratory, and redlegged grasshoppers. Check here:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ou...its/plant-pests/330-web-lists/plant-pest-list
These are among only a few grasshoppers that reach outbreak levels in the US. Most grasshoppers in the US follow an annual cycle and produce only one generation a year. The eggs of species that are limited to 1 generation per year typically diapause development and require a cool period to break the diapause. They will hatch the next year when temperatures warm. This makes most less than favorable for cultivation. There are some exceptions like two species of Shistocerca (nitens and americana) which are descended from a progenitor of the desert locust. The migratory grasshopper eggs can also hatch without the diapause. A very interesting grasshopper that may be of use to you guys is a widely dispersed grasshopper called the Greenstriped grasshopper (Chortophaga viridifasciata). It can produce multiple generations annually, will eat cut greens, and might be a good culture species. It is native east of the Rockies for most of the US and can likely be found locally. They can actually survive freezing and are among the first to appear in the spring. These species I've mentioned that have no diapause for eggs are not expressly allowed for transportation without permit. This may be because they were never prohibited to begin with or perhaps other reasons. One thing I can tell you is that they are less commonly associated with crop damage than are are allowed one's that were mentioned. The USDA could tell one if the Greenstriped needs a permit to ship within its range or not.
So grasshopper cultured by or used by pet enthusiasts pose little (if any) threat provided the species cultured/fed are native to the locale. I would encourage any interested to learn about grasshoppers and try your hand at culturing locally available grasshoppers. Below is link to the Greenstriped which will inhabit the locale of most US members and this link is part of broader network of information one might use to learn about the grasshopper ecology.
http://idtools.org/id/grasshoppers/factsheet.php?name=13384
Cheers!
http://idtools.org/id/grasshoppers/factsheet.php?name=13384
Persnickety Parson's
Chameleon Enthusiast
Also US native grasshoppers require the breeder to meet their excessive requirements for breeding, winter diapause of the eggs being the easier ones, some species need flight cages so the males can do their breeding displays.
SauceGandhi
Avid Member
Weird bump, but this is a good time to mention that I'll update my availability on the classifieds soon.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
AFAIK, it is not illegal to raise your own that you can find locally (in your own back yard/property).
Where I live, they are abundantly abundant. (redundant redundancy intended)
Grasshoppers Locusts as pets or feeder insects
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...rasshoppers/&usg=AOvVaw1Qk6lyDHvxyfr_t7HC5LyITo any Californians, see: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/live-locusts-in-usa.158698/#post-1361890
and subsequent posts in same thread. IDK if Jeremy still has this permit.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
I have got the updated permits to ship two species of Schistocerca in California. However I have only been producing enough Schistocerca for my own purposes the last couple of years and have rarely shipped Schistocerca to other reptile keepers. Just at this time all my grasshopper enclosure space is maxed out. I am planning to expand my facilities though.AFAIK, it is not illegal to raise your own that you can find locally (in your own back yard/property).
Where I live, they are abundantly abundant. (redundant redundancy intended)
Grasshoppers Locusts as pets or feeder insects
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiKyJHA7enwAhWEW80KHY0gDBAQFjAQegQIEhAD&url=https://www.keepinginsects.com/cockroaches-locusts-ants/grasshoppers/&usg=AOvVaw1Qk6lyDHvxyfr_t7HC5LyI
To any Californians, see: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/live-locusts-in-usa.158698/#post-1361890
and subsequent posts in same thread. IDK if Jeremy still has this permit.
Best Regards
Jeremy A. Rich
