Huron Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus huroni
This record describes Melanoplus huroni (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Can easily be confused with M. fasciatus (especially females), but this species is usually less contrastingly marked, more speckled, and averages wider in body proportions. M. fasciatus usually has longer and broader wings, but not always. M. huroni tends to be somewhat more clumsy in movements, and not directly associated with Ericaceae (it seems to favor somewhat more open areas than M. fasciatus ). Males of M. fasciatus have longer and wider cerci. M. dodgei is very closely related, and best distinguished from M. huroni by location (found south from southern Wyoming). M. dodgei has male cerci a bit shorter and shorter wings. [Note: M. dodgei has recently (2012) been split into 19 species, and this comment applies to all 19.] M. montanus and close relatives are also quite similar, but have longer and wider male cerci. These are found west and south of M. huroni from the western Rockies to the Cascades in the northwestern United States. [Note: M. montanus group has recently (2012) been raised from a few to 32 species.]
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
British Columbia to Quebec, south into adjacent U.S into the upper Midwest, New England, and along the east side of the Rockies to northeastern Wyoming.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus huroni. 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 Huron Short-wing Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Huron Short-wing Grasshopper
What is Huron Short-wing Grasshopper?
Huron Short-wing Grasshopper (Melanoplus huroni) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Huron Short-wing Grasshopper?
Can easily be confused with M. fasciatus (especially females), but this species is usually less contrastingly marked, more speckled, and averages wider in body proportions. M. fasciatus usually has longer and broader wings, but not always. M. huroni tends to be somewhat more clumsy in movements, and not directly associated with Ericaceae (it seems to favor somewhat more open areas than M. fasciatus ). Males of M. fasciatus have longer and wider cerci. M. dodgei is very closely related, and best distinguished from M. huroni by location (found south from southern Wyoming). M. dodgei has male cerci a bit shorter and shorter wings. [Note: M. dodgei has recently (2012) been split into 19 species, and this comment applies to all 19.] M. montanus and close relatives are also quite similar, but have longer and wider male cerci. These are found west and south of M. huroni from the western Rockies to the Cascades in the northwestern United States. [Note: M. montanus group has recently (2012) been raised from a few to 32 species.]
Where is Huron Short-wing Grasshopper found?
Range: British Columbia to Quebec, south into adjacent U.S into the upper Midwest, New England, and along the east side of the Rockies to northeastern Wyoming.