Interactions

         M. differentialis is a primary consumer and an important food source to other animals within its habitat. In fact grasshoppers are such a heavily utilized food source for other organisms that the vast majority fail to make it to adult hood. Even while buried underground the eggs are often parasitized by flesh-tachinid, and tangleveined flys. Those lucky enough to hatch are often consumed by spiders, rodents, and birds (Pfadt, 1971). In fact young grasshoppers play a key role in the survival and development of many upland game bird like grouse, turkey, and pheasant as they provide an essential source of fat and protein to the young birds.

        In addition to primary predators grasshoppers are also susceptible to a variety of pathogens from other organisms including: fungi, bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and nematodes (Chapman & Joern, 1990). Many of these organisms often parasitize and kill their grasshopper host. For example, entomopathogenic fungi have been known to decimate locust populations for over a hundred years. Consequently, this knowledge has spurred research in utilizing certain fungal species for pest control (Chapman & Joern, 1990).

         Despite the wide range of potential natural threats the lead killer of grasshoppers are by far humans. People have been at war with various grasshopper species for centuries. Often traveling in large migratory swarms locust could easily destroy fields of crops in a matter of days. Today such large populations are controlled by a variety of means, the most common of which is use of pesticides. Each season farmers spray a variety of pesticides over the fields to kill the potentially destructive insects. For years locust species have annually caused hundreds of millions of dollars in crop damage in the U.S alone (Howard, 1908). Though devastating to annual crop yield it is interesting to note that M. differentialis actually favors wilted plant leaves when conditions are favorable (Lewis A.C).

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