# hi-rise bugs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-rise-bugs/187209>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 9, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-rise-bugs/187209 "2003-07-09T12:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tucker0171](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@tucker0171](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tucker0171)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-rise-bugs/187209/1 "2003-07-09T12:24:00Z")

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[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspiderballoon.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mspiderballoon.html)

I work on the 23rd floor of a building, and occasionally we see grasshoppers outside our windows. Considerably larger than a few millimeters (3-5 inches in length, I’d guess) and not capable of balloon construction, as far as I know. Can these critters get that high just from rising air currents? Can they fly that high. If so, why would they want to?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-rise-bugs/187209/2 "2003-07-09T20:34:51Z")

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Grasshoppers have wings and can fly; they don’t need balloons. They fly in order to find new territory to lay eggs, and I’d guess that 250 feet or so of elevation wouldn’t be that big a challenge to them.

[http://insected.arizona.edu/ghopperinfo.htm](http://insected.arizona.edu/ghopperinfo.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> …many species can fly faster than you can run.

Also read this for the chill of it.

[http://www.producer.com/articles/20030501/production/20030501prod01.html](http://www.producer.com/articles/20030501/production/20030501prod01.html)

> [@](#):
>
> CORONATION, Alta. — In the summer of 2002, major highways were closed in east-central Alberta when driving became too hazardous as clouds of grasshoppers darkened the sky and dead insects made roads too slippery.
> 
> This year could be equally bad, say hopper watchers…