Quanah Grasshopper
Melanoplus tuberculatus
This record describes Melanoplus tuberculatus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Described from Quanah, Hardeman County and Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas
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
Apparently favors open grassland areas.
Geographic Range
Not well documented, but known in Texas east from the Caprock and lower Rio Grande, and from near the Red River in the north, south to near the southern tip of the state - Map - most records from Red River to c. TX
Seasonal Activity
apparently overwinters as eggs in ground, with nymphs in spring and adults from spring to early winter.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Melanoplus tuberculatus Morse 1906
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus tuberculatus. 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 Quanah Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Tyler Hedlund
Frequently Asked Questions About Quanah Grasshopper
What is Quanah Grasshopper?
Quanah Grasshopper (Melanoplus tuberculatus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Quanah Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Apparently favors open grassland areas. |
| Range | Not well documented, but known in Texas east from the Caprock and lower Rio Grande, and from near the Red River in the north, south to near the southern tip of the state - Map - most records from Red River to c. TX |
When is Quanah Grasshopper active?
Quanah Grasshopper: seasonal activity - apparently overwinters as eggs in ground, with nymphs in spring and adults from spring to early winter..