Dark-sided Grasshopper
Melanoplus nigrescens
This record describes Melanoplus nigrescens (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hind tibiae red; hind femur distinctly cross-banded dark on outer side. Tegmina short, but longer than pronotum, overlapping above, usually (when folded) light on top and contrastingly darker (often nearly black) on sides. Very similar to M. querneus , replacing it northeastward. That species averages lighter, and the male cerci are broader. Quite likely the two are regional variants of one species. M. walshii is wide-ranging further to the northwest, and is smaller. Male cerci smaller and more slender than in either of the above. Tegmina a bit shorter than either, usually with light stripes along top edges (when folded) as apposed to entirely light on top.
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
North Carolina to Georgia
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus nigrescens. 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 Dark-sided Grasshopper (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark-sided Grasshopper
What is Dark-sided Grasshopper?
Dark-sided Grasshopper (Melanoplus nigrescens) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Dark-sided Grasshopper?
Hind tibiae red; hind femur distinctly cross-banded dark on outer side. Tegmina short, but longer than pronotum, overlapping above, usually (when folded) light on top and contrastingly darker (often nearly black) on sides. Very similar to M. querneus , replacing it northeastward. That species averages lighter, and the male cerci are broader. Quite likely the two are regional variants of one species. M. walshii is wide-ranging further to the northwest, and is smaller. Male cerci smaller and more slender than in either of the above. Tegmina a bit shorter than either, usually with light stripes along top edges (when folded) as apposed to entirely light on top.
Where is Dark-sided Grasshopper found?
Range: North Carolina to Georgia