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.