Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper
Melanoplus forcipatus
This record describes Melanoplus forcipatus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male cercus distinctive Sympatric with M. tequestae on the Lake Wales Ridge
Identification notes
Male cercus distinctive
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
Open scrub
Geographic Range
Lake Wales Ridge, central FL
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus forcipatus. 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 Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper
What is Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper?
Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper (Melanoplus forcipatus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper?
Male cercus distinctive
Where is Toothcercus Shortwing Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open scrub |
| Range | Lake Wales Ridge, central FL |