Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper
Melanoplus alabamae
This record describes Melanoplus alabamae (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very like M. querneus & M. nigrescens from further east. Wings are usually longer, and male cerci are more expanded apically. It is also a bit probematic to know where M. walshii (to the north) stops and M. alabamae begins. The main differences include slightly longer wings that have the pale stripe at the angle usually less prominent, distinctly smaller male furculae, and wider cerci in M. alabamae , but these differences are not great, and the two species are very similar. It is possible, if not likely, that M. walshii, M. alabamae, M. querneus, and M. nigrescens will one day be found to represent a continuum of variation within a single wide-ranging species. The extremes look somewhat different, but there seem to be intermediates connecting them. They need to be studied more extensively in the field. The species could also be confused with M. ponderosus & M. tunicae from further west, but M. alabamae is somewhat more slender; coloration more smooth and shining, with sides usually distinctly darker than top, usually with a hint of a pale line along sides of top of pronotum, and male cerci are smaller and less expanded apically. It seems likely that these are also close relatives.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Melanoplini
- Genus
- Melanoplus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Reported from type locality and from Greenville, Butler County, Alabama and Brookhaven, Lincoln County, Mississippi. It could be that the Brookhaven female was really M. tunicae ?
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus alabamae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper
What is Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper?
Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper (Melanoplus alabamae) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper?
Very like M. querneus & M. nigrescens from further east. Wings are usually longer, and male cerci are more expanded apically. It is also a bit probematic to know where M. walshii (to the north) stops and M. alabamae begins. The main differences include slightly longer wings that have the pale stripe at the angle usually less prominent, distinctly smaller male furculae, and wider cerci in M. alabamae , but these differences are not great, and the two species are very similar. It is possible, if not likely, that M. walshii, M. alabamae, M. querneus, and M. nigrescens will one day be found to represent a continuum of variation within a single wide-ranging species. The extremes look somewhat different, but there seem to be intermediates connecting them. They need to be studied more extensively in the field. The species could also be confused with M. ponderosus & M. tunicae from further west, but M. alabamae is somewhat more slender; coloration more smooth and shining, with sides usually distinctly darker than top, usually with a hint of a pale line along sides of top of pronotum, and male cerci are smaller and less expanded apically. It seems likely that these are also close relatives.
Where is Alabama Spur-throat Grasshopper found?
Range: Reported from type locality and from Greenville, Butler County, Alabama and Brookhaven, Lincoln County, Mississippi. It could be that the Brookhaven female was really M. tunicae ?