Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus flabellatus
This record describes Melanoplus flabellatus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Contrasting dark bars behind eyes; blue hind tibiae; short wings usually touch over abdomen; male cerci triangular, longer than wide, tapering entire length to narrow tip. 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
Geographic Range
Texas - Map - OSF
Seasonal Activity
May-Sept (BG data)
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus flabellatus. 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 Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper
What is Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper?
Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper (Melanoplus flabellatus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper?
Contrasting dark bars behind eyes; blue hind tibiae; short wings usually touch over abdomen; male cerci triangular, longer than wide, tapering entire length to narrow tip. Tip of male abdomen
Where is Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper found?
Range: Texas - Map - OSF
When is Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper active?
Dallas Short-wing Grasshopper: seasonal activity - May-Sept (BG data).