TigH
04-03-2003, 11:01 AM
Those icky Florida grasshoppers are born red!!!! I thought they were all black with a yellow stripe when they were young. I just went out to the Polynesian garden to check on some recent additions and was witness to the hatching of some of these pesky critters!
They were emerging from a tiny hole in the ground. They are a pale red color and their exoskeleton is soft (which made them much easier to stomp!) I felt slightly guilty for killing them seconds after they were born, but I'd rather have a healthy crop of plants.
Unfortunately there are about 300 or more of their siblings in my new garden area! :( They are just so small and hoppy, I can't begin to squash them all (and flip flops aren't the right squashing footwear). I will have to wait for them to grow and then use my clippers to send them off to a better place....grasshopper heaven. ;)
Just thought it was really cool to see them so soon after hatching. They are disgustingly fascinating!
They were emerging from a tiny hole in the ground. They are a pale red color and their exoskeleton is soft (which made them much easier to stomp!) I felt slightly guilty for killing them seconds after they were born, but I'd rather have a healthy crop of plants.
Unfortunately there are about 300 or more of their siblings in my new garden area! :( They are just so small and hoppy, I can't begin to squash them all (and flip flops aren't the right squashing footwear). I will have to wait for them to grow and then use my clippers to send them off to a better place....grasshopper heaven. ;)
Just thought it was really cool to see them so soon after hatching. They are disgustingly fascinating!