GRASSHOPPERIDENTIFICATION

GUIDEfor

Rangeland and Pasture Summer-Feeding Species

Ron SeymourExtension Educator, Adams County

Jack CampbellExtension Entomology Specialist

West Central Research & Extension Center

Gary HeinProfessor, Department of Entomology

Jim KalischExtension Associate, Department of Entomology

EC1568(Revised December 2009)

Nymph Development

Largeheaded GrasshopperPhoetaliotes nebrascensis

Facts• Preferstallgrasses.• Feedsongrassesbyclimbingplantsandconsuming

blades.• BeginstohatchinearlyJune.• Egglayinglocationvariable.

Adult Identification• Bodylightgray.• Bodylength:male-0.7inch,female-0.8inch.• Headroundedandlargecomparedtobody.• Hasabodyspurbetweenthefrontlegs.• Usuallyhasshortwings.• Upperpartofhindlegshasabrownstripe.• Lowerpartofhindlegsisblue.

Nymph Identification• Bodylightgray.• Sideofpronotum(platebehindhead)hasadark

stripeneartop.• Bodylengthof4thinstarnymph:0.5inch.• Headroundedandlargecomparedtobody.• Upperpartofhindlegshasalengthwise

brownstripe.

Migratory GrasshopperMelanoplus sanguinipes

Biology and Management Manykindsofsummer-feedinggrasshoppersarefoundinNebraskarangelandandpastures.Ofthese,thesixspecieslistedinthisguidearemostlikelytobenumerousduringoutbreakyears.Thesespeciesover-winteraseggsandhatchthroughmuchofMayandJune.Whenabundant,theycancauseseveredamagetorangelandandpastures,especiallywhendryconditionslimitgrassgrowth.Identificationofthespeciespres-entisimportantbecausesomehavegreaterpotentialfordamagethanothers.Identificationofthenymphaldevelopmentstageisimportantbecausecontroleffortsaremosteffectivewhentargetedatthe3rdand4thinstarstages.

Facts• Moreofaconcernondepletedorweedyrangeland.• Willmigrateinmasstonewfeedingareas.• Feedsongrassesandforbsbyclimbingonplants

andconsumingblades.• Beginstohatchinmid-May.• Layseggsinsoilatthebaseofgrasses.

Adult Identification• Bodytanorgray,blackstripewithlightspotson headbehindeyesthatcontinuesandwidensacross partoftheupperpronotum(platebehindhead).• Bodylength:male-0.9inch,female-1.0inch.• Hasabodyspurbetweenthefrontlegs.• Lowerpartofhindlegsisblue-greenorreddish.

Nymph Identification• Bodytanorgray.• Bodylengthof4thinstarnymph:0.4inch.• Headroundedwithblackstripebehindeyesthat

continuesacrosstheupperpronotum.• Narrowpaleyellowcrescentonheadbeloweyes

thatcontinuesacrosspronotum.• Upperpartofhindlegshasalengthwisebroken

blackstripe.• Lowerpartofhindlegsisblue-greenorreddish.

Acknowledgments:OurthankstoDr.RobertE.Pfadt(retired),Dr.JeffLockwood,andScottSchelloftheUniversityofWyomingandtheUSDAforgraphicsusedinthispublication.FinancialsupportforthisguidewasprovidedbyagrantfromUSDAAnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService.

ExtensionisaDivisionoftheInstituteofAgricultureandNaturalResourcesattheUniversityof

Nebraska–LincolncooperatingwiththeCountiesandtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture.

UniversityofNebraska–LincolnExtensioneducationalprogramsabidewiththenondiscriminationpolicies

oftheUniversityofNebraska–LincolnandtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture.

©2006-2009,TheBoardofRegentsoftheUniversityofNebraskaonbehalfoftheUniversityofNebraska–LincolnExtension.

Allrightsreserved.

Adult Male

4th Instar Nymph

Images not to scale. Images not to scale.

Adult Male

4th Instar Nymph

Know how. Know now.

Facts• Particularprobleminrangelandwithsandyloam

soils.• Feedsongrassesbyclimbingplantsandconsuming

blades.• BeginstohatchinearlyMay.• Layseggsinbaresoil.

Adult Identification• Bodyslender,tanandgray.• Bodylength:male-0.7inch,female-0.9inch.• Headslant-facedwithabrownstripeonthesides.• Forewingsspottedbrownwithivorystripenear

base.

Nymph Identification• Bodytanwithbrownsidestripesfromeyeto

abdomen.• Bodylengthof4thinstarnymph:0.4inch.• Headslant-faced.• Upperpartofhindlegshasalengthwisebrown

stripe.

Whitewhiskered GrasshopperAgeneotettix deorum

Facts• Spendsmuchofitstimeontheground.• Feedsongrassesandsedgesbyclimbingplantsand

clippingbladeswhichfalltothegrounduncon-sumed.

• BeginstohatchinearlyMay.• Layseggsamonggrassroots.

Adult Identification• Bodyrobust,reddishbrownwithdarkbrown

patches.• Bodylength:male-0.6inch,female-0.9inch.• Headslightlyslant-facedwithwhite,mediumlength

antennae.• Forewingsaretanwithbrownspeckles.• Lowerpartofhindlegsisredtoorange.

Nymph Identification• Bodyblackonsidewithlighttanontop.• Headslightlyslant-faced,blackwithlighttanpatch

beloweye.• Bodylengthof4thinstarnymph:0.4inch.• Whiteantennae.• Upperpartofhindlegsmottleddark.

Bigheaded GrasshopperAulocara elliotti

Facts• Spendsmuchofitstimeontheground.• Feedsongrassesandsedgesbyclimbingplantsand

consumingbladesandcuttingthemoff.• BeginstohatchinearlyMay.• Layseggsinbaresoil.

Adult Identification• Bodyrobust,greywithdarkbrownareas.• Bodylength:male-0.7inch,female-0.9inch.• Headrelativelylargeandslightlyslant-faced.• Forewingshavedarkspots.• Topofpronotum(platebehindthehead)hasalight

colored“X”pattern.• Upperpartofhindlegshastwoblackbars.• Lowerpartofhindlegsismediumblue.

Nymph Identification• Bodydrabgrayandtanwithdarkbrownareas.• Bodylengthof4thinstarnymph:0.5inch.• Headslightlyslant-faced.• Topofpronotumhaslightcolored“X”pattern.• Upperpartofhindlegshastwodarkbarsandfour

tosevendarkspots.

Striped GrasshopperAmphitornus coloradus

Facts• Rarelybecomesadominantspecies.• Feedsongrassesandsedgesbyclimbingplantsand

consumingbladesandcuttingthemoff.• BeginstohatchinearlyMay.• Layseggsinsoilatthebaseofgrassesorsedges.

Adult Identification• Bodyslender,cream-coloredwithbrownstripes.• Bodylength:male-0.75inch,female-0.9inch.• Headslant-faced,topwithbrownstripesdivided

byacream-coloredstripethatextendsdownthepronotum(platebehindthehead).

• Upperpartofhindlegshasthreebrownbands.• Lowerpartofhindlegsispaleblue.

Nymph Identification• Bodycreamcoloredwithbrownstripes.• Bodylengthof4thinstarnymph:0.5inch.• Headslant-faced,topwithbrownstripesdividedby

acream-coloredstripethatextendsdownthebody.• Upperpartofhindlegshasalengthwisebrown

band.

Spottedwinged GrasshopperCordillacris occipitalis

Adult Male

4th Instar Nymph

Images not to scale.

Adult Male

4th Instar Nymph

Images not to scale.

Adult Male

4th Instar Nymph

Images not to scale.

4th Instar Nymph

Adult Male

Images not to scale.