Differential grasshopper

IUCN Red List

not listed
LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

not listed
N5 - Secure
NNR - Unranked
SNR - Unranked
SNA - Not applicable

Minnesota

not listed

Differential grasshopper is a common, large, long-winged, spur-throated, short-horned grasshopper. It occurs across the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and in California, Mexico, and Ontario Canada. It is common in the southern half of Minnesota, where it is at the northern extent of its range.

The male is 1⅛″ to 1 7⁄16″ (28 to 37 mm) in length and yellowish-brown or army green. The female is larger, 1⅜″ to 2″ (34 to 50 mm) in length.

There are no pale stripes on the upper (dorsal) part of the pronotum. On the sides of the pronotum there are 3 narrow, black, vertical grooves. There is a distinct, spiny bump (spur) at the base of the neck, between the base of the forelegs. The antennae are usually yellow, sometimes reddish-yellow, and are no more than ½ the length of the body. The pair of long appendages on the last abdominal segment (cerci) are boot-shaped with a heel, but this is not visible without a hand lens.

On the middle pair of legs, the foot (tarsus) is divided into two segments. On the hind pair of legs, the narrow upper portion (the outer face) of the hind third leg segment (femur) is yellow. The narrow lower portion (the inner face) of the hind femur is yellow. The middle portion of the femur, the broad area between the outer face and inner face, is grooved in a distinct, black, herringbone pattern.The fourth segment (tibia) of the hind leg is yellow with black, tooth-like spines. The remaining tibia are yellowish.

The wings are long, projecting beyond the tip of the abdomen when at rest.

Size

Female: 1⅜″ to 2″ (34 to 50 mm)

Male: 1⅛″ to 1 7⁄16″ (28 to 37 mm)

Similar Species

Low, moist areas, crop borders, roadsides.

Season

July to October. One generation.

Behavior

Differential grasshopper is a strong flier.

Life Cycle

The female thrusts her ovipositor into sod or rank vegetation and deposits a pod containing 45 to 194 eggs. The pods are curved and are about 1½″ long and ¼″ in diameter. She continues depositing egg pods, ultimately laying up to 600 or more eggs. The eggs hatch in the late spring when plants are green, most over a period of about 14 days. The nymphs mature into adults in about 32 days. Nymphal development is well synchronized, and most transform into adults in just a few days.

Nymph Food

Shoots and other easily digested parts of the same plants that adults feed on.

Adult Food

Forbs and grasses, especially plants in the Aster family (Asteraceae), including giant ragweed, common sunflower, and prickly lettuce.