Stone's Grasshopper
Melanoplus stonei
This record describes Melanoplus stonei (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Male cercus
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
Mostly areas with fairly rank herbaceous growth in sandy places, such as beaches, stabilized dunes, and especially pine barrens.
Geographic Range
Manitoba to New Brunswick, south into Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and thru New England to New Jersey.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as eggs. Adults summer and autumn.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus stonei. 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 Stone's Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Stone's Grasshopper
How do you identify Stone's Grasshopper?
Male cercus
Where is Stone's Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly areas with fairly rank herbaceous growth in sandy places, such as beaches, stabilized dunes, and especially pine barrens. |
| Range | Manitoba to New Brunswick, south into Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and thru New England to New Jersey. |
When is Stone's Grasshopper active?
Stone's Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Overwinters as eggs. Adults summer and autumn..