Grasshopper Species - List & Names Of Grasshoppers (original) (raw)

Here is a list of Grasshopper species with their scientific name and a small description of each.

Common Name Scientific Name Hints for Identification
SPUR-THROATED GRASSHOPPERS
Melanoplinae
Fuzzy olive-green grasshopper Campylacantha olivacea short-winged; short hairs on prothorax
Post oak grasshopper Dendrotettix quercus oak woodlands; arboreal
Grass-green grasshopper Hesperotettix speciosus short-winged; red markings; bluish hind tibia
Hesperotettix viridis pratensis colorful, distinct red and white markings; blue tibia
Sage grasshopper Hypochlora alba short, pointed wings; host Artemesia
Narrow-winged spur-throat Melanoplus angustipennis
Two-striped grasshopper Melanoplus bivittatus 2 yellow stripes from behind eyes onto forewings; hind femur black-striped, hind tibia blue
Pasture grasshopper Melanoplus confusus black stripe behind eye; hind tibia blue
Differential grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis hind femur marked w black chevrons
Red-legged grasshopper Melanoplus femurrubrum femurrubrum red hind tibia; hind femur dark-banded
Melanoplus foedus hind femur yellow, long forewings
Keeler grasshopper Melanoplus keeleri luridus red magenta hind tibia; forewings speckled
Packard grasshopper Melanoplus packardii 2 dark stripes from head to wings
Grizzly Spur-throat grasshopper Melanoplus punctulatus camouflaged on lichen-covered tree bark
Migratory grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes dark line on the femur is broken, red legs; line of spots on forewing
Scudder’s spur-throat grasshopper Melanoplus scudderi rounded, short-wings; red hind tibia
Two-lined short-winged grasshopper Paratylotropidia brunneri short-winged; maroon hind tibia, distinctive white lines on thorax & wings
Largehead grasshopper Phoetaliotes nebrascensis short, pointed forewings; blue hind tibia,
SLANT-FACED GRASSHOPPERS
Gomphocerinae
White whiskers grasshopper Ageneotettix deorum thin, whitish antennae; forewings speckled; hind tibia orange
Striped grasshopper Amphitornus coloradus dark stripes head to forewings
Bighead grasshopper Aulocara elliotti over-sized head; blue hind tibia
Boopedon auriventris sides of prothorax have 2 vertical lines
Boopedon gracile sides of prothorax have 2 vertical lines+ top; hind tibia band tan on magenta
Harris sprinkled grasshopper Chloealtis conspersa moist habitat; female short-winged, male shiny black pronotum; uncommon
Short-winged green grasshopper Dichromorpha viridis green or brown; low areas, shady lawns
Velvet-stripped grasshopper Eritettix simplex antennae expanded tip; dark stripes on pronotum w/white, constricted, white mark on forewings
Two-striped slant-faced grasshopper Mermiria bivittata maculipennis dark stripe from eye to forewing, small white streak on forewing; antennae flat & expanded centrally
Mermiria picta neomexicana no white streak; eye stripe brown
Obscure grasshopper Opeia obscura antennae flat & expanded centrally
Spotted-wing grasshopper dark spots & speckled forewing edge; 2 cuts across pronotum
Slant-faced pasture grasshopper Orphulella speciosa dark spots on forewing, pronotum & abdomen; one cut across pronotum
Four-spotted grasshopper Philobostroma quadrimaculatum forewings 3-5 spotted; hind tibia orange
Short-winged toothpick grasshopper Pseudopomala brachyptera forewings short & pointed; antennae flat & expanded centrally
Admirable grasshopper Syrbula admirabilis sexes different;
BAND-WINGED GRASSHOPPERS
Oedipodinae
Speckle-winged grasshopper Arphia conspersa hindwing black spur in red; early spring
Arphia simplex hindwing black spur in yellow; summer
Autumn yellow-winged grasshopper Arphia xanthoptera pronotum arched; late summer, fall
Green-striped grasshopper Chortophaga viridifasciata green & brown forms; hindwings colorless
Carolina grasshopper Dissosteira carolina hindwing black, spotted at tip
Dusky grasshopper Encoptolophus sordidus “X” on the pronotum
Three-banded grasshopper Hadrotettix trifasciatus bottom half of inside of femur is blue
Wrinkled grasshopper Hippiscus rugosus spring adults
Platt range grasshopper Mestobregma plattei second black on outside edge hindwing
Coral-winged grasshopper Pardalophora apiculata common in spring; red hindwing; forewing spots large
Haldeman’s grasshopper Pardalophora haldemanii forewing w/numerous spots; spring
Boll’s grasshopper Spharagemon bolli forewing w/2 faint stripes; hindwing pale yellow
Mottled sand grasshopper Spharagemon collare forewing w/3 faint stripes; pronotum ridged; hindwing spotted at tip
Orange-legged grasshopper Spharagemon equale forewing w/3 dark stripes, spotted at tip; hind tibia & inside femur orange
Kiowa grasshopper Trachyrhachys kiowa pronotun 2-notched; hind tibia blue
REALLY BIG GRASSHOPPERS
Cyrtacanthacridinae vertical stripe in the eye (fresh specimen)
American grasshopper Schistocerca americana americana forewings spotted; pale dorsal stripe
Birdwing grasshopper Schistocerca lineata wings not speckled; yellow dorsal stripe
Obscure bird grasshopper Schistocerca obscura green; hind tibia black; yellow dorsal stripe
Romaleinae
Plains Lubber grasshopper Brachystola magna short-winged, flightless; heavy-bodied