Shorthorned Grasshoppers (Acrididae) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Shorthorned grasshoppers are insects with short antennae and powerful jumping legs, found in grasslands, crop edges, and roadsides across the United States. Colors vary from green to brown and gray, so wing patterns, face shape, and hind-leg markings help distinguish species.

In this group

Differential GrasshopperMelanoplus differentialis

Dark chevrons on the outer upper segment of the hind leg are a useful field mark, and adults are common in central and eastern U.S. cropland and weedy edges.

Red-legged GrasshopperMelanoplus femurrubrum

The red lower segments of the hind legs are conspicuous on adults, but several related species require a closer look at other markings.

Clear-winged GrasshopperCamnula pellucida

This northern and western grassland species has spotted forewings and mostly clear hindwings.

Carolina GrasshopperDissosteira carolina

It rests on bare ground and flashes broad black hindwings with a pale yellow border when it flies.

Appearance

Appearance: Green, tan, brown, and gray forms can blend into vegetation or bare soil. Color can vary within a species, so use structure and markings too.
How to recognize it: The antennae are usually much shorter than the body, and the thick upper segments of the hind legs power strong jumps. A lies on each side of the first abdominal segment, and females have a short .

Look-alikes

KatydidsTettigoniidae

Acrididae usually has antennae much shorter than the body. Katydids have threadlike antennae longer than the body, and females often show a long bladelike ovipositor.

Why they get mixed upBoth groups have large jumping hind legs and live among plants.

Pygmy GrasshoppersTetrigidae

In pygmy grasshoppers, the hard plate behind the head extends toward the end of the abdomen. In Acrididae, it covers only the thorax.

Why they get mixed upBoth have short antennae and jumping hind legs.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: prairies and grasslands
crop edges
roadsides
open dry ground
Range: Acrididae occurs worldwide. In the United States, members live in habitats ranging from Great Plains grasslands and western rangelands to farm fields and roadsides.
Preferred conditions: They are easiest to find where grasses or other low plants provide food and open sun warms the ground. Moisture and vegetation preferences differ by species.

Behavior

Diet: Most feed by chewing grasses and broadleaf plants, with plant preferences varying by species.
Activity: Most are active by day. They may walk or hop through vegetation, and winged adults often fly when disturbed.
Overwintering: Many economically important Minnesota species overwinter as eggs, but the overwintering stage differs among species and regions.

Life cycle

Reproduction: Many species place clusters of eggs in soil. resemble small wingless adults and molt several times before reaching adulthood.

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