Nevada Sage Grasshopper
Melanoplus rugglesi
This record describes Melanoplus rugglesi (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females are difficult to separate from similar species. Males have greatly expanded cerci and short furculae, and within the species' distribution can only be confused with the very closely related M. occidentalis . M. rugglesi usually has a more even color pattern with less spotting on the tegmina and bolder more solid black postoccular bars on the pronotum; cerci are somewhat larger and usaully somewhat more squared apically (more evenly rounded in M. occidentalis . The hind tibiae is often more purplish than the blue of M. occidentalis . These are average looking Melanoplus grayish to brownish with red on the inner hind femur and blue (sometimes pinkish) hind tibiae. Occasionally this species is abundant enough to be considered of economic concern. It produces a migratory phase in which reddish coloring is often pronounced and wings are much longer than in the solitary phase.
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 grasslands and shrublands.
Geographic Range
Primarily in Great Basin, and Columbia Basin; s. British Columbia to w. Wyoming and south through Utah, and Nevada, into California, nw. Arizona and perhaps w. Colorado. Some peripheral areas may only be occupied temporarily by migrating insects.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Mixed feeder, but apparently favoring Sagebrush ( Artemisia species).
Life History
Overwinters as eggs, hatching early in spring with adults maturing early (late May or June) and often gone by mid to late August.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus rugglesi. 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 Nevada Sage Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Sage Grasshopper
What is Nevada Sage Grasshopper?
Nevada Sage Grasshopper (Melanoplus rugglesi) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Nevada Sage Grasshopper?
Females are difficult to separate from similar species. Males have greatly expanded cerci and short furculae, and within the species' distribution can only be confused with the very closely related M. occidentalis . M. rugglesi usually has a more even color pattern with less spotting on the tegmina and bolder more solid black postoccular bars on the pronotum; cerci are somewhat larger and usaully somewhat more squared apically (more evenly rounded in M. occidentalis . The hind tibiae is often more purplish than the blue of M. occidentalis . These are average looking Melanoplus grayish to brownish with red on the inner hind femur and blue (sometimes pinkish) hind tibiae.
Where is Nevada Sage Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open grasslands and shrublands. |
| Range | Primarily in Great Basin, and Columbia Basin; s. British Columbia to w. Wyoming and south through Utah, and Nevada, into California, nw. Arizona and perhaps w. Colorado. Some peripheral areas may only be occupied temporarily by migrating insects. |
What does Nevada Sage Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Nevada Sage Grasshopper includes Mixed feeder, but apparently favoring Sagebrush ( Artemisia species)..
What is the life cycle of a Nevada Sage Grasshopper?
Overwinters as eggs, hatching early in spring with adults maturing early (late May or June) and often gone by mid to late August.