Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus oregonensis
This record describes Melanoplus oregonensis (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dark, often blackish, with pattern usually little contrasting, wings about as long as or shorter than pronotum, widely separated over the back, and roughly oval in shape. Hind tibiae brownish blue to blue. Males with cerci rounded oblong and roughly two to three times as long as wide; with furculae well-developed, narrowly triangular and often slightly divergent, reaching nearly to middle of supra-anal plate.
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
Relatively dry, often gravelly and gently sloping grassy areas, often openings in conifer forest or woodland.
Geographic Range
mostly in the Rocky Mountains in Montane to Alpine environments from southern British Columbia and Alberta southward into Utah and northern New Mexico.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The names marshallii (= gillettei ), ascensor , and triangularis have been treated variously as subspecies or synonyms of M. oregonensis , or as distinct species. Most references seem to treat them under M. oregonensis ; however, in the Orthoptera Species File , two are currently treated as distinct species. Tip of male abdomen
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus oregonensis. 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 Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper
What is Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper?
Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper (Melanoplus oregonensis) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper?
Dark, often blackish, with pattern usually little contrasting, wings about as long as or shorter than pronotum, widely separated over the back, and roughly oval in shape. Hind tibiae brownish blue to blue. Males with cerci rounded oblong and roughly two to three times as long as wide; with furculae well-developed, narrowly triangular and often slightly divergent, reaching nearly to middle of supra-anal plate.
Where is Oregon Short-wing Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Relatively dry, often gravelly and gently sloping grassy areas, often openings in conifer forest or woodland. |
| Range | mostly in the Rocky Mountains in Montane to Alpine environments from southern British Columbia and Alberta southward into Utah and northern New Mexico. |