Red-legged grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum)
| Melanoplus femurrubrum | |
|---|---|
_(43478105211).jpg) | |
| Taxonomic classification | |
| Suborder: | Caelifera |
| Family: | Acrididae |
| Subfamily: | Melanoplinae |
| Tribe: | Melanoplini |
| Genus: | Melanoplus |
| Scientific name | |
| Melanoplus femurrubrum (De Geer, 1773) | |
| Geography | |
| Native countries: | |
| Traits | |
| Diet: | Forbs |
| Pest status | |
| Known pest | |
Overview
The red-legged grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) is a widespread species found throughout North America. It is easily recognized by its distinctive bright red hind tibiae. Although it feeds on many types of plants, it shows a preference for legumes, composites, and grasses. While this species does not form swarms, populations can sometimes reach very high densities and inflict significant damage on wheat and legume crops.
Taxonomy
For full nomenclature and taxonomic details of this taxon, see Orthoptera Species File
| Title | Author(s) | Year | Geographic purview | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UofA School & Home Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Newsletter Newsletter Grasshoppers | University of Arizona,Dawn H. Gouge, Tom J. Getts, Tim W. Stock, John F. Connett and Micah Gay | 2023 | View URL | |
| Common Grasshoppers of Montana Cropland and Rangeland | Montana State University | View URL | ||
| Grasshoppers of Colorado presentation | University of Colorado | N/A | View URL | |
| USDA grasshopper ecology and economics presentation | United States Department of Agriculture | N/A | View URL | |
| NatureServe Explorer | View URL | |||
| Grasshopper Management in Rangeland, Pastures, and Crops | Tom A. Royer and Phillip G. Mulder | View URL | ||
| Kansas State University research and extension grasshopper info | Kansas State University | 2023 | View URL | |
| Grasshoppers and their control | Texas A&M University,Carl D. Patrick | View URL | ||
| Grasshopper management in the Pacific Northwest | Carmen Willmore, Jason Thomas and Steven Hines | 2020 | View URL | |
| Insect answers | Daniel Suomi, Gary Thomasson and Dave Keim | 1990 | View URL | |
| Watch out for grasshoppers! | Amy J. Dreves, Nicole Anderson and Clare Sullivan | 2016 | View URL | |
| Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Outbreaks in Oregon Frequently Asked Questions | Oregon Department of Agriculture | 2022 | ||
| Grasshoppers their habits and damage | United States Department of Agriculture | 1964 | View URL | |
| Utah pests fact sheet | Utah State University,Edward W. Evans and Erin W. Hodgson | 2008 | View URL | |
| Community-wide grasshopper control | Utah State University,Marion Murray | 2020 | View URL | |
| A Manual of the Grasshoppers of New Mexico | New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service,D.B. Richman, D.C. Lightfoot, C.A. Sutherland and DJ. Ferguson | 1993 | View URL | |
| The grasshoppers and other orthoptera of Arizona | University of Arizona,E. Ball, E. R. Tinkham, Robert Flock and C. T. Vorhies | 1942 | View URL | |
| Orthoptera of Northern Great Plains | North Dakota State University | 2007 | ||
| Hopper helper | Wendal Cushing | View URL | ||
| The grasshoppers of Nebraska | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,Mathew L. Brust, Wyatt Hoback and Robert J. Wright | 2009 | View URL | |
| Common Wyoming pest grasshoppers | University of Wyoming,Scott Schell and Alexandre Latchininsky,B.A. Shambaugh | View URL | ||
| Field guide to grasshoppers of economic importance in Nevada | University of Nevada | View URL | ||
| Pest grasshoppers in Oregon | Oregon Department of Agriculture,Thomas Valente and J. Buck Dunlap | 2024 | View URL | |
| Montana.gov Orthoptera Field Guides | View URL | |||
| Field Guide to Common Western Grasshoppers | United States Department of Agriculture,Robert E. Pfadt | 2002 | ||
| Grasshoppers of the Western United States | United States Department of Agriculture | View URL | ||
| ARS grasshopper species fact sheets | Agricultural Research Services and United States Department of Agriculture | 1994 | ||
| Pest Grasshoppers of the West | University of Wyoming | 2005 | View URL | |
| The Grasshoppers of the Western U.S. Lucid mobile app | APHIS PPQ Science & Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station), United States Department of Agriculture and Center for Plant Health Science and Technology of the USDA | 2016 | ||
| Grasshopper Identification and Control Methods to Protect Crops and the Environment | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | 2010 | View URL | |
| Rangeland Grasshopper Management | University of Wyoming,Jeffrey Lockwood and Scott Schell | 1993 | ||
| Grasshopper Integrated Pest Management User Handbook | Agricultural Research Services and United States Department of Agriculture | 2000 |
Distribution
Distribution of M. femurrubrum is overwhelmingly focused on North America. [1] The grasshopper’s native range covers the majority of the continent, with the exception of certain mountain ranges and the far north due to low tolerance of colder temperatures.[2]
For more information and distribution records see [GBIF]
Identification
Red-legged grasshopper nymphs are clearly identifiable by distinct, striking yellow-and-black striped markings on the sides of the body. Adults of the species are medium sized and brown, with a bright yellow underside and bright or dark red patch on the hind tibia. Rarely, adults may exhibit a blue or green coloration instead of the characteristic brown and yellow with red legs.[2]
| Title | Author(s) | Year | Geographic purview | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UofA School & Home Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Newsletter Newsletter Grasshoppers | University of Arizona,Dawn H. Gouge, Tom J. Getts, Tim W. Stock, John F. Connett and Micah Gay | 2023 | View URL | |
| Common Grasshoppers of Montana Cropland and Rangeland | Montana State University | View URL | ||
| Grasshoppers and their control | Texas A&M University,Carl D. Patrick | View URL | ||
| Insect answers | Daniel Suomi, Gary Thomasson and Dave Keim | 1990 | View URL | |
| Grasshoppers their habits and damage | United States Department of Agriculture | 1964 | View URL | |
| Utah pests fact sheet | Utah State University,Edward W. Evans and Erin W. Hodgson | 2008 | View URL | |
| Community-wide grasshopper control | Utah State University,Marion Murray | 2020 | View URL | |
| A Manual of the Grasshoppers of New Mexico | New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service,D.B. Richman, D.C. Lightfoot, C.A. Sutherland and DJ. Ferguson | 1993 | View URL | |
| The grasshoppers and other orthoptera of Arizona | University of Arizona,E. Ball, E. R. Tinkham, Robert Flock and C. T. Vorhies | 1942 | View URL | |
| Orthoptera of Northern Great Plains | North Dakota State University | 2007 | ||
| Hopper helper | Wendal Cushing | View URL | ||
| The grasshoppers of Nebraska | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,Mathew L. Brust, Wyatt Hoback and Robert J. Wright | 2009 | View URL | |
| Common Wyoming pest grasshoppers | University of Wyoming,Scott Schell and Alexandre Latchininsky,B.A. Shambaugh | View URL | ||
| Field guide to grasshoppers of economic importance in Nevada | University of Nevada | View URL | ||
| Pest grasshoppers in Oregon | Oregon Department of Agriculture,Thomas Valente and J. Buck Dunlap | 2024 | View URL | |
| Montana.gov Orthoptera Field Guides | View URL | |||
| Field Guide to Common Western Grasshoppers | United States Department of Agriculture,Robert E. Pfadt | 2002 | ||
| Grasshoppers of the Western United States | United States Department of Agriculture | View URL | ||
| ARS grasshopper species fact sheets | Agricultural Research Services and United States Department of Agriculture | 1994 | ||
| Pest Grasshoppers of the West | University of Wyoming | 2005 | View URL | |
| The Grasshoppers of the Western U.S. Lucid mobile app | APHIS PPQ Science & Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station), United States Department of Agriculture and Center for Plant Health Science and Technology of the USDA | 2016 | ||
| Grasshopper Identification and Control Methods to Protect Crops and the Environment | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | 2010 | View URL | |
| Rangeland Grasshopper Management | University of Wyoming,Jeffrey Lockwood and Scott Schell | 1993 |
Biology
Habitat and Ecology
This species can be found in a wide range of habitats across North America. Populations prefer low altitude locations, with younger or more tender vegetation. They enjoy shady portions of woodland, roadsides, and pastures and meadows which contain preferred diet plants.[1] Red-legged grasshoppers may eat a variety of plant matter depending on habitat, but are known to consume legumes, composites, and grasses.[2] Some have also been found to feed on pine needles and moss. Individuals may occasionally feed in the early part of the night, but feeding primarily occurs during daylight.[1]
Pest Status
This species is not known to swarm, but populations may occur in very high densities which superficially resemble swarms. Large groups may cause severe damage to wheat fields, and are also known to be destructive to clover and lucerne. Red-legged grasshoppers may also attack barley, cotton, maize, oats, soybean, sugar beet, timothy grass, and tobacco. [1]
Specimen contributors for this species
Bionomia links specimen records in GBIF to the people who collected and identified them. Each list shows the top 20 for this species. Read more…
Collected by
People who collected specimens of this species in the field.
- Theodore Henry Frison — 21 specimens collected
- Abbott William Nason — 10 specimens collected
- Mark Rosenstein — 10 specimens collected
- Selim Peabody — 8 specimens collected
- Chris Kreussling — 7 specimens collected
- Carl Otto Mohr — 6 specimens collected
- Kent McFarland — 6 specimens collected
- Herbert Holdsworth Ross — 4 specimens collected
- Karolina Fucikova — 4 specimens collected
- Clarence Holmes — 4 specimens collected
- Katja Schulz — 3 specimens collected
- Jacob Gorneau — 3 specimens collected
- Michael J. W. Carr — 3 specimens collected
- Daniel Hughes — 2 specimens collected
- Michael Bunsen — 2 specimens collected
- Ted MacRae — 2 specimens collected
- Nick Abbate — 2 specimens collected
- L. Alan Prather — 1 specimen collected
- Stephen Shepherd — 1 specimen collected
- Andrew Villeneuve — 1 specimen collected
Identified by
People who determined the taxonomic identity of specimens of this species.
- Tyler Grant — 51 specimens identified
- Chris Kreussling — 7 specimens identified
- Kent McFarland — 6 specimens identified
- Clarence Holmes — 5 specimens identified
- Mark Rosenstein — 5 specimens identified
- Karolina Fucikova — 4 specimens identified
- Katja Schulz — 2 specimens identified
- Michael Bunsen — 2 specimens identified
- Ted MacRae — 2 specimens identified
- Michael J. W. Carr — 2 specimens identified
- Nick Abbate — 2 specimens identified
- L. Alan Prather — 1 specimen identified
- Daniel Hughes — 1 specimen identified
- Stephen Shepherd — 1 specimen identified
- Andrew Villeneuve — 1 specimen identified
- Yianni Patrikios Laskaris — 1 specimen identified
- Brian Peck-Sheng Wee — 1 specimen identified
- Zachary Dankowicz — 1 specimen identified
- Jessica Schnell — 1 specimen identified
- Morgan Howard — 1 specimen identified
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 COPR (1982) The Locust and Grasshopper Agricultural Manual. London: Overseas Pest Research. 169.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Pfadt RE (1994) Redlegged Grasshopper Melanoplus femurrubrum (DeGeer). Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 912. Species Fact Sheet. https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/30320505/grasshopper/Extras/PDFs/Species%20Fact%20Sheets/Redleg.pdf