Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
Photos from the gathering
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

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Genus Melanoplus

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)
Family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
Subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Genus Melanoplus
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Stål, 1873. From Greek melano dark, plus suffix -plus. Apparently means something to the effect of "clad in dark armor" (Pests, Plagues and Politics--Michael Burgett, Oregon State University).
Numbers
Arnett (1) mentions 239 North American species.
Identification
CAUTION: Please note that many of the species identifications are qualified. Positive identifications for many species can only be achieved by examining the male genitalia on an actual specimen. Images alone are usually not enough to reach a conclusion.