General: The Grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids (Class Insecta, Order Orthoptera) are a diverse group of creatures that inhabit our yards, plus the deserts and mountains around Las Vegas. There are two suborders with numerous families in each. Grasshoppers are in the suborder Caelifera, while crickets and katydids are in the suborder Ensifera.

Orthopterans undergo incomplete metamorphosis, which means (more or less) that little ones grow up to be big ones. These creatures are generally recognized by their elongate body shape and their long hind legs that facilitate jumping. They have chewing mouthparts and large eyes. The antennae are jointed, but of differing lengths (short in grasshoppers, long in the others). They have two pairs of wings; the forewings are hardened at the base, and the hindwings are membranous. The wings are held down over the abdomen when the creature is not flying, with the hindwings folded fan-like under the forewings.

Grasshoppers (Order Orthoptera, Suborder Caelifera)