CATCHING GRASSHOPPERS

Do your kids love insects, such as grasshoppers? Tolerate them? Hesitant around them? Loathe them? I think no matter where they fall on the insect spectrum, this activity can be a fun one. If they loathe them, no worries – they don’t have to even touch the grasshoppers or other critters! But they will still get the fun and benefit of being outside, connecting with nature, and learning that all life is worthy of respect.

I always consider the hotter months of summer (July and August) grasshopper season around here. I know they are out earlier, but it seems they really start catapulting and flying around when it gets hot and dry out. They’ve also had time to mature and get their wings later in the summer, so that might be why I notice them more, too..? Or maybe we are just busy doing other things earlier in the summer, so we don’t even notice them before that..?

I first noticed the number of grasshoppers in the untamed part of our backyard a couple years ago when it was hot and dry out. The boys now go out there with their nets and catch at least one on every swipe! We’ve tried used Fraybill fishing nets, and the smaller grasshoppers can escape out of the holes. Our boys like the Melissa & Doug butterfly nets the best. They have held up well, even with two boys playing aggressively with them!

I love that they can do this in our backyard, but I thought it might be fun to take the activity to the local hills. Then we can all get some new scenery, the dog can run more, and we could maybe even find more butterflies and other insects!

We’ve found the most grasshoppers in the Scratchgravel Hills, particularly Head Lane. I’m sure they are elsewhere, such as the open areas of Mount Helena City Park, but the Scratchgravels provide plenty of open, dry grasslands, sunlight (we find hoppers more often in the sun than the shade), and space to get off the trails in order to find them. We have also seen them in the tall grasses of the Vigilante Bike Park. So if you find yourself biking there with your little ones, grab a net and find some grasshoppers when you need a break!

If you’re little one is hesitant to walk through the tall grasses, they can just brush their nets in the grass along the trails to get the grasshoppers moving. Even if you’re on more of a designated hike, swinging at the grasses and watching the grasshoppers fly and catapult can be a fun distraction for little ones.

When you do catch some grasshoppers and gently hold them, you will probably notice the grasshopper spit some brown “juice” on you. It is harmless and the grasshopper’s way of protecting itself against smaller predators, such as ants.

Happy grasshopper hunting (and releasing)! 🙂