Melanoplus sanguinipes

Adult males identified by broad, apically rounded cerci and notch of subgenital plate with abruptly elevated, thickened apical margin. Node or bump present on mesosternum. Hind tibia color highly variable but typically red, orange, or pink. Nymphs identifiable by: compound eye with many light spots and narrow brown bar across middle; narrow pale yellow crescent on gena below eye continuing onto pronotal lobe; hind femur with dorsal black stripe cut in middle by light bar; hind tibia of first instar fuscous with pale basal ring, other instars pale blue-green or reddish without pale ring. Distinguished from Melanoplus devastator by broader cerci in males, shorter furculae, and different nymphal color patterns (M. devastator nymphs paler with more prominent ivory crescent, different hind femur markings).

Medium-sized grasshopper, 15–30 mm in length, with females larger than males. Body color dark grayish-brown, often tinged with reddish-brown. Broad black band extends from behind eyes along lateral lobes of prozona. Hind tibiae usually bright red, orange, or pink, occasionally blue, green, or dull brown—this color variation is a key identification feature. Tegmina extend 2–3 mm beyond hind femora, brown with dark spots, slender and tapering. Wings colorless. Hind femora light yellow to sulfur brown with two oblique, broad dark-brown bands. Cerci broad, apically rounded, about twice as long as broad. Furculae small, slender, diverging, one-fourth to one-third length of supraanal plate.

Occurs in a multitude of habitats including native grasslands, meadows, prairies, and agricultural lands. Thrives in disturbed habitats: weedy rangeland, crop borders, roadside strips, abandoned cropland, and overgrazed pastures. Favors areas with compact sandy loam soils suitable for oviposition and abundant forbs or mixed vegetation. Adapted to western agriculture; inadvertent weed introduction, plowing of sandy soils creating wind-blown drifts, and overgrazing create especially favorable conditions.

Widely distributed across North America from southern Canada and the Yukon River south to tropical lowlands of Mexico. Present throughout the United States except peninsular Florida and California west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Also found in the Caribbean. In western states, occurs from plains to montane elevations. Four recognized subspecies with somewhat different geographic ranges: M. s. sanguinipes (widespread), M. s. atlanis, M. s. defectus, and M. s. vulturnus.

Early-hatching species. Nymphs appear from late spring through summer depending on location and elevation; in northern Colorado, nymphs occur June through August. Adults emerge from first part of summer through early fall; in northern Colorado, adults present August through October. Hatching begins first on open south slopes, fields with little cover, and sandy soils; duration ranges from 3 weeks under uniform warm conditions to 6 weeks with variable soils, vegetation, or cool temperatures. In warmer areas (e.g., Kansas), may produce partial second generation.

Polyphagous mixed feeder consuming both grasses and forbs. Preferred foods include dandelion, tumble mustard, wild mustard, pepperweed, western ragweed, downy brome, Kentucky bluegrass, barley, and wheat. Also feeds on many native grasses including blue grama, western wheatgrass, bluegrasses, sand dropseed, squirreltail, and stinkgrass. Nymphs and adults ingest dry materials on ground surface including plant litter, cattle manure, and bran flakes. Laboratory studies demonstrate that mixed diet provides better nutrition than single-plant diet.

Eggs laid in pods 1 inch long, curved, containing 5–18 eggs arranged in two columns. Eggs banana-shaped, 4.5–4.8 mm long, pale yellow to cream colored. Pods deposited 1–2 inches below soil surface, often among roots of grasses or around base of wheat stubble and alfalfa. Embryonic development requires 527 day-degrees above 50°F threshold; 80% of development occurs in summer of deposition, 20% following spring. Nymphal stage with 5–6 instars (females usually require 6), completed in 35–55 days depending on temperature. Preoviposition period 2–3 weeks. Females may produce up to 20 pods and 400 eggs under laboratory conditions; average fecundity in nature unknown but likely lower.

Diurnal with distinct daily activity pattern. Spends night resting horizontally on ground or vertically on vegetation. Basks in morning sun by turning side perpendicular to rays and lowering hindleg to expose abdomen; basking lasts 2–3 hours. Becomes active, feeding and walking, as temperatures rise. Mating and oviposition occur later in day. When soil temperatures exceed 130°F, climbs vegetation to rest in shade. Second period of activity occurs in late afternoon with feeding, mating, and oviposition. Exhibits temperature preference of approximately 38°C. Migratory behavior inherent and regularly displayed, though variable among populations. Nymphal bands may migrate up to 10 miles (usually less than 5) at 0.1 mph. Adults highly migratory in prereproductive stage; swarming occurs on clear days near 80°F with gentle winds. Flights designated low (≤25 ft) or high (>25 ft); swarms observed up to 13,000 ft elevation. Adults can travel 30+ miles in a day; longest recorded migration 575 miles. Courtship involves male waving antennae and vibrating hind femora before copulatory leap; visual stimuli primary for locating females, with possible chemical cues for distinguishing mature/virgin females. Multiple matings common; most active individuals mate 40–50+ times.

Primary consumer in grassland ecosystems; significant herbivore of both native vegetation and agricultural crops. Serves as host for dipterous parasitoids and entomopoxvirus (Melanoplus sanguinipes EPV). Population irruptions can dramatically alter vegetation structure and reduce forage availability for livestock and wildlife. Contributes to nutrient cycling through consumption and excretion; ingestion of plant litter and manure may influence soil processes.

Most economically damaging grasshopper species in the United States. Causes more crop damage than any other North American grasshopper. Attacks wheat, barley, oats, alfalfa, clover, corn, vegetables, ornamentals, vines, bushes, and trees—feeding on foliage, fruit, and bark. Damage mechanisms include destruction of germinating seedlings, gradual defoliation reducing kernel weight, head clipping of wheat, and consumption of winter wheat seedlings. Rangeland infestations deplete forage for livestock and wildlife. Mass migrations extend damage across regions. Subject of extensive integrated pest management research; control methods include clean culture, elimination of weedy fence rows, judicious herbicide and insecticide use, planting dense grass stands in idle cropland, rangeland restoration, and annual population monitoring.

• Melanoplus devastatorClosely related member of mexicanus group; males distinguished by elongated slender cerci versus broad rounded cerci in M. sanguinipes, and longer furculae extending halfway on supraanal plate. Nymphs paler with more prominent ivory crescent and different hind femur markings. Geographic range primarily coastal California and Pacific Northwest versus broader continental distribution of M. sanguinipes.
• Melanoplus bivittatus (twostriped grasshopper)Larger species with distinctive paired light yellow stripes running dorsally from head through pronotum and tegmina; hind tibia green or buff with black spine tips versus typically red in M. sanguinipes. Cercus shape different in males.
• Melanoplus femurrubrum (red-legged grasshopper)Shares common name confusion; distinguished by different pronotal shape, hind femur coloration patterns, and male genitalia structure.

The common name 'red-legged grasshopper' is also applied to Melanoplus femurrubrum, causing confusion; M. sanguinipes is properly called migratory grasshopper or lesser migratory grasshopper. The gregarious migratory phase was formerly described as separate species Melanoplus spretus (Rocky Mountain locust), now extinct; this phase is no longer observed in modern populations.

• grasshopper
• pest
• migratory
• agriculture
• rangeland
• polyphagous
• North America
• integrated pest management
• swarming
• Melanoplinae

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Migratory Grasshopper
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• List of Species Fact Sheets| Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Twostriped Grasshopper
• Devastating Grasshopper
• The Genome of Melanoplus sanguinipes Entomopoxvirus
• Errata: Effects of Dipterous Parasitoids on Reproduction of Melanoplus sanguinipes (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
• Behavioral and olfactory responses of grasshopper hatchlings, Melanoplus sanguinipes, to plant odours and volatile compounds
• COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR OF THE MIGRATORY GRASSHOPPER,MELANOPLUS SANGUINIPES(ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)
• THE TEMPERATURE PREFERENCE OF THE GRASSHOPPER MELANOPLUS SANGUINIPES (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)
• Costs and Benefits of Behavioral Fever in Melanoplus sanguinipes Infected by Nosema acridophagus
• Effects of Dipterous Parasitoids on Reproduction of Melanoplus sanguinipes (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
• COUPLING BEHAVIOUR OF THE MIGRATORY GRASSHOPPER, MELANOPLUS SANGUINIPES (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)