Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper
Melanoplus keeleri
This record describes Melanoplus keeleri (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male cerci are distinctive, bifurcate with the dorsal arm larger than the ventral More at the references below.
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
pasture and open woods
Geographic Range
Throughout most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus keeleri. 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 Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , metrioptera , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper
What is Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper?
Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper (Melanoplus keeleri) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper?
Male cerci are distinctive, bifurcate with the dorsal arm larger than the ventral More at the references below.
Where is Keeler's Spur-throat Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | pasture and open woods |
| Range | Throughout most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains |