Insect · GBIF taxon 1698875
Dawson's Spur-throat Grasshopper
Melanoplus dawsoniAlso known as Dawson's Grasshopper
Dawson's spur-throat grasshoppers inhabit meadows, prairies, and open woodlands across northern North America. Recognized by their compact body and typically short, vestigial wings, these grasshoppers rely on powerful jumps rather than long flight to evade predators. Females deposit egg pods into warm soil during late summer, where the embryos overwinter before hatching as nymphs in spring.
GrasslandHerbivoreNorth American
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Forbs
- Low foliage
Predators
- Songbirds
- Spiders
- Rodents
ThreatsAgricultural conversion, excessive pesticide application, and habitat loss
HabitatsPrairies, grasslands, pastures, and woodland clearings
Life span1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyAcrididae
- GenusMelanoplus
- SpeciesMelanoplus dawsoni
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Field Observation: Walk slowly through sunny grasslands to flush them out of low plants.
- Wing Check: Look closely at the short wing pads to distinguish them from fully winged species.
- Gentle Handling: Cup your hands softly around them as forceful gripping can break fragile limbs.
Close Relative [2] / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative "Two-striped Grasshopper - Melanoplus bivittata, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine" by Judy Gallagher is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher · cc-by-sa
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain Pro
Mystic Meadows
Dawson's Spur-throat Grasshopper is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.