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!


Just thought it was really cool to see them so soon after hatching. They are disgustingly fascinating!