Benito Martinez Jr., age 9, of Philadelphia, Pa., for his question.

Does a grasshopper really spit tobacco?

A frantic grasshopper may spit out a juicy wad of something. But, whatever it is, it is not tobacco. Most likely the brownish juice is a wad of partly digested food. Experts think that he spits to defend himself when ants and other insects back him into a corner. And, as you may know from experience, he also may spit when you capture him and hold him in your hands. However, usually the frisky fellow can escape in enormous leaps, so he does not need to spit very often.