777
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 97
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by 777 on Jan 6, 2019 3:16:35 GMT
Which kind of grasshopper trap is best for catching them in large numbers? I’m trying to obtain lots of grasshoppers, preferably the American grasshopper (Schistocerca americana).
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Post by trehopr1 on Jan 6, 2019 4:29:29 GMT
I don't know if there is such a thing as a "grasshopper trap". When hoppers do reach significant numbers most agricultural departments here in the U.S. are pretty quick to spray insecticide fog from airplanes over any imagined populations. After all, hoppers have long plagued man's agricultural endeavors; at times in a very destructive way.
If the species you mentioned is our American band-winged grasshopper than you need not look any further. In July and August I can pick them up in just about any field I go to and often in numbers (if I want to). There are at least 3 color variations of which I have seen (whitish/cream colored,grey, and reddish/brick colored). I could package some up for you and spank them out to you on the pronto if you live here in the U.S.
Just let me know how many you would like. I consider them more of a bother to me than anything
as their excessive numbers and habits get in the way of my good "butterfly" hunt'in...
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777
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 97
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by 777 on Jan 6, 2019 5:31:21 GMT
I don't know if there is such a thing as a "grasshopper trap". When hoppers do reach significant numbers most agricultural departments here in the U.S. are pretty quick to spray insecticide fog from airplanes over any imagined populations. After all, hoppers have long plagued man's agricultural endeavors; at times in a very destructive way. If the species you mentioned is our American band-winged grasshopper than you need not look any further. In July and August I can pick them up in just about any field I go to and often in numbers (if I want to). There are at least 3 color variations of which I have seen (whitish/cream colored,grey, and reddish/brick colored). I could package some up for you and spank them out to you on the pronto if you live here in the U.S. Just let me know how many you would like. I consider them more of a bother to me than anything as their excessive numbers and habits get in the way of my good "butterfly" hunt'in... Thank you very much for the offer, but I am fine when it comes to obtaining that species of grasshopper here. This may sound strange to you, but I have been eating different kinds of foods that I’ve never tried before, and I’ve decided to see what cooked grasshoppers taste like (they are a delicacy in many cultures). They are quite good to eat if cooked the right way, which is the reason why I want to catch large numbers of them. They are quite fast, and they never hesitate to fly long distances to the tree tops, making the process of catching them in large numbers with a net difficult and time consuming. I’m aware that I can simply buy them from the internet, but I want to get them any time from where I live as fresh as possible (there are lots of fields and pine forests where I live, giving me easy access to the grasshoppers if I’m able to sneak up on them). |
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Post by exoticimports on Jan 6, 2019 12:21:07 GMT
Use the Cambodian method. Make a 4'x4' horizontal pool (like a kid's sand box, but fill it with water instead of sand). Make a 4'x4' upright frame and hang clear plastic sheeting over it. Put pool on one side of the clear plastic, MV light on the other. Hoppers come to the light, fall in the water. I've seen them catch thousands in one night.
Hoppers can be parasitized, so make sure they are cooked.
Frying is easy. In Mexico they flavor with lime and salt; in Thailand it's soy. Eat like potato chips.
Chuck
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Post by Ed on Jan 6, 2019 14:06:30 GMT
Just be careful with the legs
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Post by Paul K on Jan 6, 2019 15:46:38 GMT
They are delicious. You must kill them first in boiling water and fry them crispy and season with salt, rosdee ( pork seasoning ) and soya sauce to achive the best taste.
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Post by cabintom on Jan 6, 2019 16:45:43 GMT
In central Africa people use the "pool" method mentioned above, except instead of clear plastic they get a few pieces of metal roofing and use that to project the light. It seems to work fairly well. Mind you, there's only one particular migratory/swarming species that they're after.
Which is perhaps another question to explore, does Schistocerca americana migrate/swarm? If not, I doubt a trap would catch them in any good number. |
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Post by Paul K on Jan 6, 2019 17:02:16 GMT
In reality you don’t need many of them, it is a snack not a main meal so 15-25 will be more than enough.
I usually buy 20 Baht portion which is a size of the small ziploc bag.
Crickets are also very good.
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777
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 97
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by 777 on Jan 6, 2019 17:06:34 GMT
Thank you all for the advice! Not only are grasshoppers delicious, but they are also very good for your health. They are packed with protein and vitamins (according to some sources, the chitin in their exoskeletons can even help with weight loss).
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Post by exoticimports on Jan 7, 2019 1:52:29 GMT
In reality you don’t need many of them, it is a snack not a main meal so 15-25 will be more than enough. I usually buy 20 Baht portion which is a size of the small ziploc bag. Crickets are also very good. That’s because the ones I buy ARE in ziploc bags! I thought they came that way from the wild. Lol |
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