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Species Melanoplus dawsoni - Dawson's Grasshopper

Dawson's Grasshopper - Melanoplus dawsoni - female October Melanoplus - Melanoplus dawsoni - male - female Melanoplus dawsoni - female Dawson’s Grasshopper (Melanoplus dawsoni) - Melanoplus dawsoni - female Handsome grasshopper - Melanoplus dawsoni - male Melanoplus dawsoni - female Melanoplus dawsoni - male Melanoplus dawsoni
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)
Family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
Subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Tribe Melanoplini
Genus Melanoplus
Species dawsoni (Dawson's Grasshopper)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Melanoplus dawsoni (Scudder, 1875)
Identification
Rather similar to M. borealis and M. femurrubrum, but differing in details of subgenital plate of male, and usually considerably smaller. Wings are nearly always short. Underside is yellow, upper side dark, abdomen above usually appears striped.

Tip of male abdomen

Range
Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to se. British Columbia, and eastward across s. Canada and n. U.S.
Habitat
Mostly in lower mountains and broken terrain. Very common in parts of inland West. Usually in dry grassland in rocky areas, often associated with Pine forest or other open woodlands.
Food
Principally forbs.