The species of grasshoppers that attack blueberries are all similar in body shape and structure. The hind legs are large and adapted for jumping.
Most grasshoppers spend the winter in the egg stage in the soil.
The time for egg-laying varies with the species of grasshopper, but normally it begins after the middle of July and may continue through September for some species. Eggs are placed well below the surface of the ground, preferably in firm, unbroken soil along roadsides, edges of fields, or in open areas of managed fields. Eggs begin to hatch in early to late May and the young grasshoppers, called nymphs, push to the surface of the ground and begin feeding on the nearest vegetation. The grasshoppers begin to become adults in early to late June and continue to feed on foliage and berries. Several species of grasshoppers have been observed feeding on blueberries in Maine.