Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus oreophilus
This record describes Melanoplus oreophilus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A member of the Montanus Species Group , containing 30 additional species. These are reliably separable only by examining male genitalia, or sometimes by knowing collection location. M. oreophilus & M. oregonis are separated from the rest by geography, and thus should not be confused with the rest.
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
High mountains on and in the vicinity of Mount Hood, Oregon.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as eggs with adults in summer and autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Overwinters as eggs with adults in summer and autumn.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Melanoplus oregonis was described as a new species by Daniel Otte in 2012. Differences from M. oregonis were not discussed. This species is included here due to the proximity of the two species to one another, the uncertainty as where one is replaced by the other, the uncertainty as to whether one blends into the other, as well as the probable impossibility of distinguishing the two based on photos alone. Illustrations of male genitalia at Orthoptera Species File appear quite similar.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus oreophilus. 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 Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper
What is Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper?
Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper (Melanoplus oreophilus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper found?
Range: High mountains on and in the vicinity of Mount Hood, Oregon.
When is Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper active?
Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Overwinters as eggs with adults in summer and autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Mount Hood Short-wing Grasshopper?
Overwinters as eggs with adults in summer and autumn.