Washington Short-wing Grasshopper
Melanoplus washingtonius
This record describes Melanoplus washingtonius (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very closely related to, and perhaps not a distinct species from M. montanus , which occurs further to the east, and M. oreophlius from the Cascades. NOTE: In 2012, Daniel Otte published numerous names for related species, and resurrected some names usually mostly from Idaho and Oregon. There are now 31 species names included within the Melanoplus montanus Species Group. Distinctions between these are fine, based on details of male genitalia. Distributions are often close to overlapping. It's not clear if the named types are all truly biologically distinct, nor if one blends with another, but identification based on photographs alone is impossible. M. washingonius overlaps distribution with some of these within the United States, but so far it is the only species recorded from British Columbia. This name is now listed at BugGuide under the M. montanus Species Group, but since the only contribution under this name so far is from British Columbia, and supposedly has to belong to M. washingtonius the species entry and observation are left alone for now.
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
Mountains of ne. Washington, n. Idaho, nw. Montana, and s-cent. & se. British Columbia
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Melanoplus washingtonius. 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 Washington Short-wing Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson