Insect
Red-legged Grasshopper
Melanoplus femurrubrumAlso known as Red-legged Locust
Red-legged grasshoppers dominate sunny meadows and pastures across North America from late summer through autumn frost. Adults jump vigorously when disturbed, revealing bright reddish hind tibiae that distinguish them from similar field grasshoppers. Females deposit pods of eggs into moist soil pockets, where they overwinter before emerging in late spring.
GrasslandHerbivoreAbundant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrasses, Clover, Forbs
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Small Mammals
ThreatsWidespread insecticide application
HabitatsMeadows, pastures, old fields, roadsides, agricultural edges
Life span1 year
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyAcrididae
- GenusMelanoplus
- SpeciesMelanoplus femurrubrum
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
- Spotting: Scan sunny open fields and grassy roadsides during late summer afternoons.
- Identification: Look closely at the lower hind leg segment for a bright red hue.
- Handling: Observe without catching, as handling may prompt them to spit regurgitated fluid.
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Dennis White · cc0
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
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Mystic Meadows
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