Shield-tailed Grasshopper
Melanoplus clypeatus
This record describes Melanoplus clypeatus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very similar to Melanoplus yarrowii , except eastern, occuring across southern Georgia and northern Florida. Could perhaps be confused with M. punctulatus in structure, but much plainer in coloration. Somewhat similar to M. nigrescens & querneus , but cerci more expanded, wings longer, and less contrastingly patterned (notably sides usually lighter, and hind femur plainer). M. differentialis is larger with black herringbone pattern on hind femur, and hind tibiae usually not reddish.
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
Apparently favors swampy environments.
Geographic Range
If not subdivided, across southern Georgia and much of northern Florida.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The synonomy listed above is tentative. The names have each been treated as distinct species in past, and more field study is needed to learn the extend of variation and the degree of isolation that actually exists in populations of these instects. The name M. clypeatus is often restricted to Georgia. The name M. furcatus is applied to north Florida material with the cercus prominently notched apically. The name M. symmetricus is applied to those from the Florida Panhandle (and perhaps occuring a bit into sw. Georgia and s. Alabama). Those named M. pegasus seems not readily distinguishable from those named M. furcatus , but with the cercus more deeply notched, and the coloration more even. These names may represent isolated populations that are distinct enough to be considered as distinct species; or, they may represent geographic variation within only a single species.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus clypeatus. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shield-tailed Grasshopper
What is Shield-tailed Grasshopper?
Shield-tailed Grasshopper (Melanoplus clypeatus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Shield-tailed Grasshopper?
Very similar to Melanoplus yarrowii , except eastern, occuring across southern Georgia and northern Florida. Could perhaps be confused with M. punctulatus in structure, but much plainer in coloration. Somewhat similar to M. nigrescens & querneus , but cerci more expanded, wings longer, and less contrastingly patterned (notably sides usually lighter, and hind femur plainer). M. differentialis is larger with black herringbone pattern on hind femur, and hind tibiae usually not reddish.
Where is Shield-tailed Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Apparently favors swampy environments. |
| Range | If not subdivided, across southern Georgia and much of northern Florida. |