Species Melanoplus differentialis - Differential Grasshopper

Lubberly Grasshopper

Herringbone Grasshopper

Melanoplus differentialis (Thomas)

Males: 28-37mm, Females 34-50mm. (1)

One of the few distinctive members of the genus Melanoplus. Forewings, pronotum uniform, without distinctive marks. Black herringbone markings on outer face of hind femora. Yellow hind tibiae. (1)

Male terminalia:

Capinera's map shows most of U.S. except for southeast, northeast, and northwest. (1). Extends into the northeast around major cities, and sporadic in the southeast (apparently absent from FL).

Introduced around 2018 to South Korea and now apparently firmly established.

Lush vegetation, moist crop areas. (1)

Adults July-October. (1)

Most any herbaceous plants

See

Black form: "The black (or nearly black) form is moderately common in ne. Colorado (particularly in Larimer, Weld, & Boulder counties) and northeastward into w. Nebraska and w. South Dakota (they seem particularly common around Scottsbluff and around Belle Fourche), but its occurrence is sporadic. While it can turn up apparently anywhere between the Rockies and Appalachians, it does not seem to be generally distributed through the population." - David Ferguson

Significant crop pest in the Midwest. (1)

Capinera, pp. 122-123 & plate 25. (1)