Differential Grasshopper - Melanoplus differentialis

Moved

… Bob Moul, 10 June, 2007 - 7:11am

Melanoplus differentialis

You know how the Differential grasshopper seems to come in both gray and yellow colorations?

The yellow colorations were bright green nymphs, and the gray colorations were brown nymphs such as this one.

Certainly this specimen would've been a fascinating adult.

I'm putting my money on this being a Melanoplus differentialis.

… Joecapricorn, 10 June, 2007 - 12:11am

Maybe Melanoplus--short-winged adult

Might be a short-winged (adult) Melanoplus. It might not be a nymph--I don't know how to tell for sure, unless you can see mature sexual organs or behavior, as in the photo below:

which I have suggested are likely Melanoplus scudderi. (Now that I think about it, perhaps we should make a "non-taxonomic" category for "short-winged Melanoplus".)

Perhaps some others will have ideas. My money would be on a Melanoplus.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 16 November, 2005 - 9:06pm

I agree.

I'm thinking this might be a nymph of M. differentialis. That herringbone pattern on the hind femur ("thigh") is pretty distinctive.

… Eric R. Eaton, 18 November, 2005 - 12:50pm

Very interesting

I had wondered about the herringbone pattern and M. differentialis--that's a good tip.

I guess when you look at the abdominal tip on this one, you do not see mature external organs.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 18 November, 2005 - 1:01pm