Round-winged Grasshopper
Melanoplus rotundipennis
This record describes Melanoplus rotundipennis (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The long fairly wide cerci and the erect conical pallium at the tip of the abdomen are characteristics of this species Tip of male abdomen
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
dry hammocks, flatwoods, high pine, and scrub oak
Geographic Range
northern FL and southern GA
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus rotundipennis. 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 Round-winged Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , metrioptera , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Round-winged Grasshopper
What is Round-winged Grasshopper?
Round-winged Grasshopper (Melanoplus rotundipennis) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Round-winged Grasshopper?
The long fairly wide cerci and the erect conical pallium at the tip of the abdomen are characteristics of this species Tip of male abdomen
Where is Round-winged Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | dry hammocks, flatwoods, high pine, and scrub oak |
| Range | northern FL and southern GA |