Red-legged Grasshopper
Melanoplus femurrubrum
Identification 5
A common species but similar to several other Melanoplus species such as the Migratory Grasshoper, M. sanguinipes. To be sure of ID, get a picture of the male terminalia (the structures at the end of the abdomen) that shows the U-shaped subgenital plate and cerci. See pictures for examples of these structures. Usually has a yellow underside with bright red hind tibia and usually greenish on the sides of the face and pronotum, but these colors are not always diagnostic.
A good source to learn about grasshopper morphology like the subgenital plate and cerci is the Morphology page at Grasshoppers of the Western U.S.: http://idtools.org/id/grasshoppers/about_morphology.php
Resources 5
Grasshoppers of the Western U.S.: http://idtools.org/id/grasshoppers/factsheet.php?name=13191
Capinera, J.L., R.D. Scott, and T.J. Walker. 2004. Field Guide to Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets of the United States. Cornell University Press.
Occurrence 5
Common statewide. This species occurs throughout most of North America.
Habitat 5
Can be found in almost any thick vegetation in the sun, such as roadsides, fields, prairie, grassland, etc.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet
- (c) Tyler Grant, all rights reserved, uploaded by Tyler Grant
- (c) sea-kangaroo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by sea-kangaroo
- (c) Rich Hoyer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Rich Hoyer
- (c) Tyler Grant, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
