INSECTS

Just as some pets enjoy visiting their vets, dare I say that insects, in their own curious way, are drawn to entomologists. 

Yesterday, during the quiet hush of the afternoon, I happened upon an unusual and rather enchanting scene. There, nestled in the sanctuary of a flower pot in my front yard, was a grasshopper - seemingly deep in thought - having what I can only describe as a solemn little picnic.

"Hello," it chirped with calm composure. Permit me to introduce myself: I am your garden’s humble guest, the grasshopper."

Belonging to the order Orthoptera, the variegated grasshopper (Zonecerus variegatus) is typically a ground-dwelling, univoltine insect. It is distinguished by its powerful hind legs, which enable it to leap away from danger with remarkable agility. In contrast, its shorter front legs are designed primarily for grasping food. Unlike butterflies and moths, which undergo complete metamorphosis, grasshoppers experience an incomplete form of transformation - a biological process I have explored in a previous post.

But what, you may ask, makes this particular grasshopper worth a moment of reflection today?

The answer lies in its voracious and varied appetite. Grasshoppers are polyphagous, meaning they feed on a wide range of plants, including pulses, cereals, and vegetables. While spotting one - or even a few - in your garden usually calls for no serious alarm, but as soon as you observe them in a swarm commonly referred to as locust, such as (Locusta migratoria), it is finished - they can consume entire fields in a matter of hours, leaving behind a trail of ruin.

Yet, I find myself wondering: could the menace be a blessing?

Amazingly, In many corners of Africa and Asia, these tiny titans are served not with fear, but with spice- a delicacy revered, packed with protein and purpose. In fact, the variegated grasshopper contains more protein and essential nutrients than both beef and chicken. Ah, reminds me of the campaign for "insect-as-food-and-feed " revolution! Why not embrace the adventure? Or embark on a grasshopper-based culinary quest through Africa or Asia. Perhaps, you might find it far more enjoyable than you ever imagined.

Well, as for those already fretting about the fate of my unexpected visitor - fear not. He is alive and well… peacefully settled in my ventriculus. I jest, of course. He's released, back into the field which he calls home.