Melanoplinae

Melanoplinae is distinguished from other Acrididae subfamilies by the presence of a prominent prosternal spine (or spur) located between the bases of the front legs. This feature contrasts with Gomphocerinae (slant-faced grasshoppers), which lack this spine and typically have stridulatory pegs on the inner surface of the hind femur, and Oedipodinae (bandwinged grasshoppers), which usually display a submarginal dark band on the hindwings. The subfamily includes both winged and wingless species; some genera such as Bajatettix are apterous, while others like Ozmacris are brachypterous with reduced wings.

Habitats span diverse environments across the Holarctic and Neotropical realms, including alpine ecosystems above 1700 m elevation, coastal chaparral, coniferous forests, low desert scrub, tropical deciduous forests, and rangeland grasslands. Specific genera show narrow endemism to single mountain ranges or islands.

Distributed across the Holarctic and Neotropical ecozones. Tribal distribution shows geographic clustering: Conalcaeini and Dactylotini are Nearctic; Dichroplini are mostly Neotropical; Jivarini are Neotropical; Melanoplini are Nearctic; and Podismini are widespread in the northern hemisphere.

Late instar nymphs and adults of rangeland pest species in this subfamily have been observed to be strongly attracted to canola oil, which functions as a kairomonal attractant. This chemotactic response has been documented in Melanoplus sanguinipes and has been exploited for pest management applications.

Many species serve as significant rangeland pests, with population outbreaks requiring management intervention. The subfamily includes economically important pest species that impact agricultural and grazing lands. Some alpine-dwelling genera such as Oropodisma function as indicator species for climate change impacts, showing elevation shifts and range contractions over multi-decadal timescales.

Species in this subfamily are major agricultural and rangeland pests, particularly in western North America. The migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes) and related species are targets of extensive control programs. Reduced Agent and Area Treatments (RAATs), an integrated pest management strategy, was developed specifically for rangeland grasshopper management targeting Melanoplinae and other subfamilies. Canola oil has been demonstrated as an effective kairomonal attractant and insecticide carrier for this subfamily, increasing mortality rates by 24–85% compared to water-based formulations.

• GomphocerinaeSlant-faced grasshoppers lack the prosternal spine characteristic of Melanoplinae and typically possess stridulatory pegs on the inner surface of the hind femur for sound production.
• OedipodinaeBandwinged grasshoppers usually have a submarginal dark band on the hindwings and lack the prominent prosternal spine; they often exhibit different coloration patterns and wing morphology.

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• List of Species Fact Sheets| Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Glossary
• Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Glossary
• Revision of the genus Alulacris Zheng, 1981 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) with proposals of new synonyms.
• Geometric morphometric characterization of the Balkan alpine grasshopper genus Oropodisma Uvarov, 1942 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae), with description of two new species.
• Two new genera of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) from Baja California, Mexico, with a regional key to the genera of Melanoplinae.