How to Determine the Gender of a Grasshopper

Many people have wondered if a grasshopper is a male or female at least one time in their lives. There is a specific way to determine the gender of a grasshopper. However, grasshoppers are very delicate and you must handle them gently when determining the gender.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Clean a glass jar for the grasshopper with warm water and soap. Dry the jar completely. Place a small stick or rock inside the jar. Cut a piece of cheesecloth to cover the top of the jar once the grasshopper is in the jar.

2. Explore the surrounding area and find a nice grasshopper. Grasshoppers are herbivores and live where there is a large amount of vegetation such as bushes, trees or plants. Catch the grasshopper and place it in glass jar. Place cheesecloth over jar and secure with a rubber band.

3. Gently reach inside jar and pick up the grasshopper. Be careful to not grab the grasshopper's legs because they are very delicate and could break. Do not squeeze the grasshopper.

4. Turn grasshopper upside down. The female will have a pointed and long segment at the end of her body. The male will have a rounded segment that is not pointy and long at the end of his body. A female will also have longer legs but you won't notice the leg length unless you have both a male and female grasshopper to compare.

5. Return the grasshopper to the glass jar or set it free back into nature. Wash your hands. Now you know how to determine the sex of a grasshopper. You can surprise and amaze your friends with your new grasshopper sex determination skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have watched the grasshopper and determined the gender, let the grasshopper go free back in nature.
• If you keep the grasshopper in the jar, make sure it has some leaves to eat and water to drink.