Plump Steppe Grasshopper: A plump grasshopper from the steppes. So fat that he forgot how to jump and fly (8 photos)

Is being big and fat good or bad? This issue has long been a bone of contention for people, because everyone has different tastes and preferences. But in the world of insects there is no such problem at all: the fatter and more clumsy you are, the easier it is to catch and eat you. Nevertheless, insects are also known for their body positivity. The army of heavyweights is led by a grasshopper with a telling name - the steppe fatty.





This carcass is truly impressive in its appearance: its length reaches 8 centimeters, and its weight is more than 30 g. For reference: a green grasshopper weighs 6-8 g. A well-fed beeches have no wings - their plump bodies are not compatible with flight. These grasshoppers are so large and clumsy that they cannot even jump - they only move by crawling.



Yes, this grasshopper is far from the Apollo of the insect world. But behind the plump forms hides a subtle creative nature. Their elytra turned into a singing organ. Now they, like crickets, sing loud serenades. True, they do this only in the mornings and evenings. And their repertoire... is not for everyone.





The three greatest mysteries in the history of mankind: whether there is an afterlife, where the Aztec gold went, and how this body climbed onto a thin blade of grass.

Grasshoppers play music especially actively during the mating season. Their love season begins in June and lasts until mid-summer. Males find convenient places and chatter until late at night. Having heard their singing at least once, you will remember it for the rest of your life: it is something between the roar of a motorcycle and the crackling sound of an electric arc.



While the males compete in imitating the sounds of a broken transformer, the girls crawl between them, mating with those whose “singing” they liked the most. Females do not limit themselves; in one evening a lady can visit the dressing rooms of several musicians at once. After lovemaking, the madam lays eggs, hiding 5–9 of them in the soil. In total, one female will lay 48-72 eggs.



The young emerge from the clutches in the spring. The motto of young fat people is to eat, eat and eat again: in a month they should grow from small boogers into well-fed giants capable of procreating. At the same time, the fat man eats food that is not high in calories. Grass and leaves - that’s his entire diet.



Their large size and clumsiness make them easy prey for predators. Their only defense is their spiny legs and powerful jaws. But this weapon is powerless against fast and agile predators. And when a person comes to the field and begins to destroy the natural habitat, it’s a complete mess for the fat man.



Due to human intervention and constant pressure from predators, plump grasshoppers are on the verge of extinction. Previously, their range extended throughout the steppe zone of Europe, but in many areas they have not been seen for several decades. In Ukraine, they were last recorded in 1906.



Due to the dark color of the skin, the fat one comes out only in the morning and evening, so as not to overheat in the sun. This makes it even more difficult for scientists to find and count insects.

Fortunately, they were recently found again - in Kabardino-Balkaria, on the banks of the Terek River. So there is still hope for the survival of the species. Surely, somewhere in the fields, charming chubby creatures are still chattering, chewing grass and enjoying the free steppe life.