Obovate-winged Grasshopper
Melanoplus rusticus-decoratus-species-group
This record describes Melanoplus rusticus-decoratus-species-group (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Hind tibiae greenish to bluish, pale near base. |
| Wings | Wings oval, usually separated above. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum above with portion in front of principal sulcus much longer than part behind, widening gently toward the rear in males, noticeably in females; rear rounded, sometimes slightly emarginate at middle; lateral lobes with black band at top, white below. Male with subgenital plate roughly triangular with smooth sides; with furculae roughly 1/3 as long as subgenital plate, often dark, diverging; with cerci long and slender, broad at base, often darkened near tip which is slightly wider than middle. It is likely that specimens placed under M. rusticus on BugGuide represent more than one closely related species. Eastward from the range of this species are related populations given other names that are difficult to separate from photographs and very similar to this species in appearance. It is unclear if these are all truly distinct species or not. These include M. decoratus, devius, morsei, tribuloides, tribulus, etc. |
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
Iowa, Wisconsin, & Ohio; southward to Texas, Arkansas, & Tennessee
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus rusticus-decoratus-species-group. 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 Obovate-winged Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Obovate-winged Grasshopper
What is Obovate-winged Grasshopper?
Obovate-winged Grasshopper (Melanoplus rusticus-decoratus-species-group) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Obovate-winged Grasshopper?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Hind tibiae greenish to bluish, pale near base. |
| Wings | Wings oval, usually separated above. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum above with portion in front of principal sulcus much longer than part behind, widening gently toward the rear in males, noticeably in females; rear rounded, sometimes slightly emarginate at middle; lateral lobes with black band at top, white below. Male with subgenital plate roughly triangular with smooth sides; with furculae roughly 1/3 as long as subgenital plate, often dark, diverging; with cerci long and slender, broad at base, often darkened near tip which is slightly wider than middle. |
Where is Obovate-winged Grasshopper found?
Range: Iowa, Wisconsin, & Ohio; southward to Texas, Arkansas, & Tennessee