Nutrition

Chortophaga viridifasciata primarily eats grasses.  In a study on food preferences in grasshoppers, which took place in Kansas, Chortophaga viridifasciata was found to have a preference for smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) in most sites studied (Lambley, J. D., Campell, John B., and Knutson, Herbert 1972).female C. viridifasciata, photo taken by user Iustin Chet on bugguide.net

When the grasshopper is eating grasses, it climbs up partway on the blade and starts eating across the blade until it breaks in two, holding onto the top piece (Pfadt, 1994). Occasionally, after the blade has been eaten in half and the top half of the blade dropped, the grasshopper will continue feeding down the blade (Pfadt, 1994).

 

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