Today, I stumbled on an insect that made me go down memory lane, reminiscing on the various outdoor playful activities I enjoyed during my childhood days. One of such activities is grasshopper hunting. My oh my! Hehehe.
Chasing and catching grasshoppers was always a fun adventure for me. The thrill of the chase, the rush of excitement whenever I caught one was always satisfying. Pure childhood bliss. đ
To think that after catching the grasshoppers, I'll often let them fly or crawl away would make one ask; "Why then go through the stress?" Like what's the point in catching them anyways? But the entire process - the thrill, excitement when catching them is exactly the point, the chocolate in the cake, not icing this time. Lol.
However, sometimes, I'd tie a thread around the grasshopper's bodies, hold them up, and have them entertain me and my fellow hopper hunter friends, hehehe. We'd be laughing at the way they'd flutter and buzz, attempting to fly away. Oh, childhood ignorance! âšī¸
Sadly, all that is in the past now, and I can no longer engage in such adventures as I've grown past it. The least I can do when I stumble on any grasshopper is to admire it, and possibly take snapshots like I did with this particular one you see here.
The grasshopper is called "Zonocerus variegatus"
Zonocerus variegatus also called the "Variegated grasshopper", is a unique species of grasshoppers found in West Africa, including Nigeria and down to my region, Aba, Abia State.
These grasshoppers are well known for their distinctive looks - a checkered pattern, with colors of a yellow, white and black, evenly distributed across their bodies, legs, and antennaes.
Their bulging dark reddish eyes make them appear domineering, and creepy too. Also they have the ability to jump long distances to safety, especially when they feel threatened, just like this one did when it felt my presence.
Zonocerus variegatus are often found in a variety of habitats, grasslands and agricultural areas. I found this one around this popular plant - leaf of life or miracle leaf.
One notable thing about variegated grasshoppers is that they have a defensive mechanism to dissuade predators. When handled, they release a strong unpleasant odor that lingers on your hands. Even with this in mind, I and my friends still caught them anyway. Why worry about smells when the fun is in the stink itself? Hahaha.
Although they're seen as important species in the ecosystems, they can sometimes be considered as pests too, since they feed on crops.
I actually made a video of the grasshopper and I'll share it with you when the network becomes stable.
But before then, I hope you like the photos.
Did you also hunt for grasshoppers while growing? I'll love to read from you. Thank you!
Author's Photos Taken With Infinix Hot 10i
