Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus apalachicolae
This record describes Melanoplus apalachicolae (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Melanoplus apalachicolae is brownish to grayish dorsally and yellow below; dark stripe from behind the eye across the pronotum and widening slightly towards the posterior of the pronotum; flightless, with elongate-oval vestigial wings; see here for a detailed description and line drawings of the male genitalia, which for now is the only way to positively identify this species. Tip of male abdomen
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
Habitat
sandhill habitat with a variety of low-growing oak trees
Geographic Range
Liberty and Gadsden counties in the Florida Panhandle
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus apalachicolae. 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 Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David Almquist; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , metrioptera , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper
What is Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper?
Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper (Melanoplus apalachicolae) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper?
males 13-14.5mm females 17-20.5mm
How do you identify Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper?
Melanoplus apalachicolae is brownish to grayish dorsally and yellow below; dark stripe from behind the eye across the pronotum and widening slightly towards the posterior of the pronotum; flightless, with elongate-oval vestigial wings; see here for a detailed description and line drawings of the male genitalia, which for now is the only way to positively identify this species. Tip of male abdomen
Where is Apalachicola Short-wing Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sandhill habitat with a variety of low-growing oak trees |
| Range | Liberty and Gadsden counties in the Florida Panhandle |