Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus mancus
This record describes Melanoplus mancus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male cerci A member of the Mancus Group , which also includes celatus, islandicus, divergens, & serrulatus . Differs in distribution and details of male furculae and cercae.
Identification notes
Male cerci
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 areas in woodland, usually where there is some shrubby ground cover like Vaccinium
Geographic Range
New England, north from New Jersey & Pennsylvania. Probably also found in adjacent Canada.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus mancus. 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 Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Denis Doucet , metrioptera , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper
What is Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper?
Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper (Melanoplus mancus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper?
Male cerci
Where is Smith's Short-wing Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open areas in woodland, usually where there is some shrubby ground cover like Vaccinium |
| Range | New England, north from New Jersey & Pennsylvania. Probably also found in adjacent Canada. |