Insect
Migratory Grasshopper
Melanoplus sanguinipesAlso known as Lesser Migratory Grasshopper, Red-legged Grasshopper
Migratory grasshoppers are highly adaptable herbivores capable of forming extensive, localized aggregations when population density spikes. Adults undertake sustained low-altitude flights spanning dozens of kilometers to seek out fresh forage across rangelands and croplands. Females deposit tough, soil-bound egg pods in late summer that overwinter safely under the snow, ensuring synchronous emergence the following spring.
HerbivoreGrasshopperSwarming
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyNative Grasses, Alfalfa, Wheat
Predators
- American Kestrel
- Western Meadowlark
- Robber Fly
ThreatsInsecticide spraying, tilling of soil, and fungal entomopathogens
HabitatsGrasslands, prairie meadows, pastures, and agricultural fields
Life span3–5 months (adult stage); 1 year total life cycle
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyAcrididae
- GenusMelanoplus
- SpeciesMelanoplus sanguinipes
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: Walk slowly through sunny grasslands during midsummer to flush adults into short hops.
- Identification: Examine the hind tibia, which are frequently vibrant red or bluish-green.
Predator (c) Jonathan Eisen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonathan Eisen · cc-by
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
Extinct Relative Julius Bien / Public domain · cc0
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Mystic Meadows
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