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Melanoplus differentialis
The differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) is a species of grasshopper belonging to the genus Melanoplus found throughout northern Mexico, central United States and southern Ontario, Canada It is considered a pest in most of its range. Adult males grow to 28–37 mm and females grow to 34–50 mm. They are brownish or greenish and as they age the color will darken. There are black grooves on the pronotum. The male has bootlike appendages at the end of its abdominal tip. There are inverted chevrons along the hind femur and the hind part the tibia is yellowish with black spikes. All of the adults tarsi are yellow along with its antennae, which in some cases are reddish yellow. Found throughout most of the United States except for the east coast and northwest. Within its range the M. differentialis is most often found in heavily weeded areas and grasslands, they can even be spotted in vacant lots and other urban areas.An adult female will lay up to 8 egg masses in soft soil, each of these masses can contain up to 11 eggs. Once these eggs are laid about 54% of them will hatch in about 2 weeks. There is only one generation a year which occurs in early summer. Once they hatch the nymphs take around 32 days to become complete adults. Adults are most active during the summer while the larvae are active in the spring. It is polyphagous, eating both grasses and forbs but experiments have shown that they grow faster if fed forbs. The most favored food plants tend to be Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola). Adults can pick up on a chemical change in wilted lettuce and sunflowers and will tend to avoid these plant This species is not migratory but can travel within a few miles to search for food.The young will feed upon various grains, alfalfa and hay crops while the adults will attack the corn, cotton and deciduous fruit crops. A single swarm can often deplete a younger crop to nothing in a matter of a few days. Because this species has a tendency to stay in large swarms while eating, it is a serious issue for farmers in most of its range. In the northern part of the range it is joined equally in numbers by the Two-striped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) but it strongly out numbers it in the southern portion.
I found it near a creek.
I am not sure what the protrusion is in pic #2 ,but, it could be expelling out of fear.
Spotted on Aug 21, 2012
Submitted on Aug 21, 2012
23 Comments
Sometime in the fall when the temperatures begin to drop, and the first freeze hits, the adults will perish. Often time frozen right to the spot that they had been clinging to. It is almost eerie to come across one of these dead grasshoppers, it is almost like some mass weapon of destruction came through and freeze-dried them
Perhaps Emma, or just the exposed exoskeleton.
J, I saw the moth. It seems to have black chitin?
Jolly thanks again for the info on Chitin.Very interesting indeed!
Chitin (C8H13O5N)n (play /ˈkaɪtɨn/) is a long-chain polymer of a N-acetylglucosamine, a derivative of glucose, and is found in many places throughout the natural world. It is the main component of the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods such as crustaceans (e.g., crabs, lobsters and shrimps) and insects.
Wikipedia.
Thanks to Jolly!
Its okay Emma, we are all here to share knowledge.
Thanks Jolly,It is amazing how much detail one can capture when a photo is studied carefully!
i was lucky to see it's mandibles and also a pic of it expelling in self defense!though that could sound disgusting!!
By the way, the exoskeleton is made up of chitin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin
Emma, I believe that may be how the grasshopper can flex the joints more easily, similar to a lubricated door versus a rusty old door. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/121... This spotting shows the same thing on a moth.
Grasshoppers do not have bones. They have exoskeleton. The joint you see could be a thin membrane which is flexible to allow movement.
Are the bones exposed at the joints?
Thanks Antonio! the last pic shows the mandibles.
I missed a lot of things lattly,no time for somany spectacular things going on every day,like this spotting,thanks for sharing it with me :)
Wow Emma,gorgeous :) great spotting and fantastic photos,very well done,congrats
Thanks Empidonax. These seem to be very low in numbers.
Nice shots! I haven't quite gotten a handle on grasshoppers yet.
The last picture shows two curved protrusions from the mouth. Assuming that they are mandibles?
:)
Thanks Cindy! Did not mean to scare it!!
Great 2nd shot! I love the colors on this one. I think you're right about it being scared. Excreting waste is always an effective deterrent :)
The only explanation for pic#2 seems to be ,that. it was expelling out of fear.
I have a question for the experts. After taking some pics, i found that this grasshopper protruded something out of it's abdomen. That was very temporary and i do not see that in any of the other pictures!!Any feedback on what this is?I did not find any information on the internet on this protrusion!
thanks Louisa!
That's a beautiful grasshopper that you spotted!
A special thanks to Bob Spader for help in ID.