Some interesting grasshopper facts:
Grasshoppers can jump up over 500 times their own height, holding the worlds highest jumper record. They can jump forwards 20 times their own body length.
Grasshoppers have white blood.
Grasshoppers obtain oxygen through holes in their body that circulate air into their inner recesses. These pairs of breathing pores, called spiracles, branch out into tubes to ensure air can reach everywhere in the grasshopper's body.
The worlds longest grasshopper is ten inches long (order Orthoptera, species Pains Lubber/Homesteader).
Various kinds of flies will lay their eggs in or near grasshopper eggs. Upon hatching, they will eat the eggs of the grasshopper. Also, various flies lay their eggs right on/in the grasshopper. When these little buggers hatch, they begin to eat the grasshopper, killing it.
Five eyes. Yup. And two of those are compound eyes, consisting of thousands of single lenses (these eyes are the biggest and most visible). The others are small simple eyes, probably used to detect light, but no one really knows.
100 grams of large grasshopper contains 20.6 grams of protein, 6.1 grams of fat, 35.2 milligrams of calcium, and 5 milligrams of iron. By weight, termites, grasshoppers, caterpillars, weevils, house flies and spiders are better sources of protein than beef, chicken, pork or lamb according to the Entomological Society of America. Also, insects are low in cholesterol and low in fat. Well then, what are we waiting for?
Grasshoppers are good for you! Our culture seems to think that eating bugs is bad, icky, and gross. But these things make a great snack! It’s fun for kids to go out and catch them and fun to learn to live with nature’s resources. Dried, they are an excellent source of protein. Or bake them whole in the oven with a bit of salt: grasshopper french fries! Be sure to remove the wings first, and the large hind legs (though these can be picked clean as well, carefully). Grasshopper fries (dry roasted insects): Place grasshoppers on a cookie sheet, salt and season to taste, and bake in a 200-degree oven for about 1 1/2 hours or until crispy. Other insects which would add crunch to this recipe include ants and crickets. Baked, fried, covered in chocolate, in cookies, pancakes, fudges, trail mix,
Sources:
http://www.ris.net/~lawnman/recipe.html
http://www.ris.net/~lawnman/hopfact.html
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2160.html
http://www.fulcrum-resources.com/html/bagging_bugs_exc.html