Grasshoppers can cause defoliation of which plants?

• A. Grasses
• B. Trees
• C. Legumes
• D. Mosses

Answer: (A)

Grasshoppers are chewing herbivores that mainly defoliate grasses in rangelands. Their feeding targets the soft, plentiful leaf blades of grasses, so when populations surge they can strip large patches of grass, reducing photosynthesis and forage yield. Woody plants like trees have tougher, less palatable leaves, so they’re not the typical target of grasshoppers. Legumes can be eaten but grasses are the primary and most common plants to experience defoliation. Mosses aren’t a favored food source and aren’t usually defoliated by grasshoppers.