Spur-throated Grasshopper
Melanoplus femurrubrum · Insect, Invertebrate, Cold-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Acrididae, order Orthoptera, class Insecta
Animal Category
Insect/Arthropod
Breed / Variety
Red-legged Grasshopper
Conservation Status
Least Concern with a stable population trend, considered a minor agricultural pest in some regions when populations surge.
About This Creature
Small to medium-sized insect ranging from 20 to 30 millimeters in length, primarily greyish-brown or olive with distinctive dark markings and reddish hind tibiae.
Physical Characteristics
Elongated body, powerful enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping, compound eyes, short antennae, chewing mouthparts, and folded membranous wings.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal, highly active during warm daylight hours, solitary to semi-gregarious, capable of strong leaping and short flights when disturbed, defensive kick with hind legs.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
North America, widely distributed across the United States and Canada
Habitat
Grassland/Savanna and Agricultural fields, Terrestrial
Diet & Nutrition
Herbivore, feeds primarily on a wide variety of grasses, forbs, and agricultural crops using chewing mouthparts.
Lifespan & Health
Annual life cycle with eggs overwintering in the soil, hatching in spring, maturing through multiple nymph instars into adults by mid-summer, predated by birds, small mammals, and spiders.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional jumping ability relative to body size, remarkable crypsis and camouflage coloration matching dry grasses and leaf litter.
Ecological Information
Primary consumer in grassland food webs, serves as a crucial food source for numerous insectivores including birds, reptiles, and small mammals, contributing to nutrient cycling.