green-legged grasshoppers
(Melanoplus viridipes-species-group)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Melanoplus is the largest genus of grasshoppers in the world. It is currently subdivided into numerous species groups. The green-legged grasshoppers form a group that currently includes 13 species. It is variously referred to as complex Melanoplus viridipes, Melanoplus viridipes group, Melanoplus viridipes-species-group, and Viridipes group. By whatever name, the subgroups of Melanoplus are ignored by most sources. Green-legged grasshoppers occur in the United States from Vermont to northern Georgia, west to eastern Minnesota and Missouri, and in southern Ontario Canada. Of the 13 species, only one, green-legged spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus viridipes), is known to occur in Minnesota. |
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Green-legged grasshoppers are among the first grasshoppers to mature in the spring. Adults are active from May to mid-August. Like other short-winged grasshoppers, they do not fly. |
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Description |
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Green-legged grasshoppers are small. Adults are just 11⁄16″ to 1″ (17.5 to 25.5 mm) in length. Males are smaller than females. On some individuals, the body has highly contrasting black, white, and green markings. On others, it is brownish above and yellowish below. The sides of the plate on the thorax (pronotum) are white on the lower half. A black band extends from behind the eye, across the upper half of the pronotum, and onto the abdomen. The wings (tegmina) are short, elliptical, and slightly overlapping. They cover less than half of the abdomen. The front and middle legs are green. The third segment (femur) on the hind legs is usually distinctly banded, sometimes moderately or only slightly banded. On the male, the appendages at the tip of the abdomen (cerci) are slightly curved downward at the tip. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 7/30/2023 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids) | ||
Suborder |
Caelifera (grasshoppers, locusts, and allies) | ||
| Infraorder | Acrididea (grasshoppers) | ||
Superfamily |
Acridoidea (short-horned grasshoppers and locusts) | ||
Family |
Acrididae (short-horned grasshoppers) | ||
Subfamily |
Melanoplinae (spur-throated grasshoppers) | ||
Tribe |
Melanoplini | ||
Genus |
Melanoplus (North American spur-throated grasshoppers) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus acrophilus) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus beameri) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus benni) Cherokee melanoplus (Melanoplus cherokee) deceptive melanoplus (Melanoplus deceptus) Hebard’s green-legged locust (Melanoplus eurycercus) Hubbell’s melanoplus (Melanoplus hubbelli) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus lilianae) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus longicornis) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus pachycercus) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus similis) spur-throated grasshopper (Melanoplus sylvaticus) green-legged spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus viridipes) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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complex Melanoplus viridipes Melanoplus viridipes group Melanoplus viridipes-species-group Viridipes group |
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Glossary
Cercus
One of a pair of small sensory appendages at the end of the abdomen of many insects and other arthropods. In Odonata, one of the upper claspers. Plural: cerci.
Pronotum
The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.
Tegmen
The modified, leathery front wing of grasshoppers and related insects that protects the hindwing. It may also serve as a camouflage, a defensive display, or a sound board. Plural: tegmina.
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Babette Kis |
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Green-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus viridipes-species-group) Melanoplus viridipes-species-group, Green-legged Grasshopper photos taken on July 8, 2021 at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Babette Kis 7/8/2021 |
Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI Melanoplus viridipes-species-group, Green-legged Grasshopper photos taken on July 8, 2021 at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/30/2023
Last Updated: