Identifying a locust or grasshopper species involves several steps that require careful observation of both physical and behavioral characteristics. You can start by observing the overall shape, color, and any distinct patterns on the body, wings, antennae, and legs. If you have a physical specimen you can measure its body length and observe the wings to check their size, shape, and coloration. Grasshoppers may have fully developed wings, reduced wings, or none at all depending on their stage in development.

Morphological features are also essential for identification. Look at the head shape and eye position. The pronotum, the plate-like structure behind the head, can have unique shapes and markings important for distinguishing species. Check the tegmina, or forewings, for length and patterns or veins that can help with identification.

If you have access to field observation it can be helpful to consider the grasshopper’s behavior and habitat. Note its movement, feeding habits, and sounds, as these behaviors can vary among species. Identifying the habitat where the grasshopper was found, such as grassland, forest, or agricultural areas, can also provide crucial clues, as different species are often associated with specific environments. By combining these observations, you can more accurately identify the grasshopper species.

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All identification resources

Name	URL	Geographic purview	Category	Author	Language
'Many will starve': locusts devour crops and livelihoods in Pakistan	[ View URL]	Pakistan	Media		English
‘Like an Umbrella Had Covered the Sky’: Locust Swarms Despoil Kenya	[ View URL]	Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia	Media		English
‘Make noise and don’t panic’: India tries to ward off locust invasion	[ View URL]	India	Media		English
‘Switch off your lights at night’, panicking Northern Cape told, as locust swarms descend	[ View URL]	South Africa	Media		English
"Biblical plague" of locusts ruins crops in Tulcea	[ View URL]	Romania	Media		English
2008 FAO High-level conference on world food security	View URL	Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania	Technical report, Reference works	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
2014 evaluation of field trials data on the efficacy and selectivity of insecticides on locusts and grasshoppers	View URL	Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia	Information hub, Instructional guides	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
2020 Appeal to the international community	View URL	Djibouti	Technical report, Interactive visual tools	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fishery, Livestock and Marine Resources	English
2021 evaluation of field trials data on the efficacy and selectivity of insecticides on locusts and grasshoppers	View URL	Africa, Europe, Asia, Americas, Oceania	Technical report, Technical reports	Locust Pesticide Referee Group, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
A Guide to Grasshopper Control in Cropland	View URL	United States	Guide, Instructional guides	John C. Campbell, Gary L. Hein	English
A Guide to Grasshopper Control on Rangeland	View URL	United States	Guide, Instructional guides	John C. Campbell, Gary L. Hein, Patrick E. Reece	English
A locust plague hit East Africa	[ View URL]	Eastern Africa	Media, Technical reports		English
A Manual of the Grasshoppers of New Mexico	View URL	United States	Guide, Instructional guides	New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, D.B. Richman, D.C. Lightfoot, C.A. Sutherland, DJ. Ferguson	English
A scoping paper on the ongoing desert locust crisis 2019-2021+	View URL	Asia, Africa	Technical report, Reference works	Think Tank for Sustainability	English
Acridomorph species of Argentina and Uruguay	[ View URL]	Argentina, Uruguay	Guide, Reference works	National University of La Plata	English
Action plan for managing the Central American locust	View URL	Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic	Guide, Instructional guides	International Regional Organization of Plant and Animal Health	Spanish
Afghan farmers despair as locusts plague precious crops	[ View URL]	Afghanistan	Media		English
Afghan northwest hit by plague of locusts	[ View URL]	Afghanistan	Media		English
Afghanistan/Moroccan locust outbreak	[ View URL]	Afghanistan	Media		English
Africa Braces for a Record Wave of Locusts	[ View URL]	Eastern Africa	Media		English
Agricultural marketing advisory note: brown locust outbreak in South Africa	View URL	South Africa	Technical report, Instructional guides	National Agricultural Marketing Council	English
Agricultural plant pest management	View URL	United States	Guide, Instructional guides	Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, F.R. Beard, H.M. Deer, S. Thomson, J.B Karren, D.G. Alston, A.H. Roe, S.A. Dewey	English
Agriculture Ministry intensifies efforts to contain Moruga grasshoppers	[ View URL]	Trinidad and Tobago	Media		English
Agriculture Victoria Australian plague locust identification, biology and behaviour	View URL	Australia	Guide, Instructional guides		English
Agriculture Victoria locust and grasshopper online reporting form	[ View URL]	Australia	Information hub, Reference works		English
AgroAtlas Pests	[ View URL]	Russia	Information hub, Instructional guides		English
Alabama Cooperative Extension System Biology and Control of Mole Crickets	[ View URL]	United States	Guide, Instructional guides
Alerta por el ingreso de una gran manga de langostas en Santiago del Estero	[ View URL]	Argentina	Media	Noticias AgroPecuarias	Spanish
Alertas Senasa App	[ View URL]	Argentina	Digital tool, Reference works	The National Food Safety and Quality Service	Spanish
Alfalfa insect pest management 2024	[ View URL]	United States	Guide, Instructional guides	Kansas State University	English
Analysis of historical outbreaks of the brown locust	View URL	South Africa	Technical report, Reference works	Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Roger Price	English
APHIS regulatory documents	[ View URL]	United States	Technical report, Technical reports	Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service	English
APLC Lab Rearing Procedures and Schedule	View URL		, Instructional guides	Australian Plague Locust Commission	English
APLC locust and grasshopper identification guide	[ View URL]	Australia	Guide, Reference works	Australian Plague Locust Commission	English
ARC-PHP brown locust fact sheet series	View URL	South Africa	Technical report, Instructional guides	Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Roger Price	English
ARC-PHP Southern African desert locust fact sheet series	View URL	South Africa	Technical report, Instructional guides	Agricultural Research Council of South Africa, Roger Price	English
Are grasshoppers as delicious as ham? Mexico’s insect hunters would like you to find out	[ View URL]	Mexico	Media, Interactive visual tools		English
Are locusts the original group travellers?	[ View URL]		Media		English
Argentina and Brazil crops threatened by locust swarm	[ View URL]	Argentina, Brazil	Media		English
Argentina Battles Locust Plague in Northern Province	[ View URL]	Argentina	Media	Voice of America	English
Argentina Scrambles to Fight Biggest Plague of Locusts in 60 Years	[ View URL]	Argentina	Media		English
Argentina tomó control de la manga de langostas y Uruguay respira	[ View URL]	Argentina	Media		Spanish
Argentina, Brazil monitor massive locust swarm; crop damage seen limited. Reuters	[ View URL]	Argentina, Brazil	Media		English
Army of 100,000 Chinese Ducks Ready to Fight Locust Plague	[ View URL]	China, Pakistan	Media	Time Magazine	English
Army of 100,000 ducks deployed to combat locust infestation	[ View URL]	China, Pakistan	Media	The Independent	English
ARS grasshopper management hub	[ View URL]	United States	Information hub, Reference works	Agricultural Research Services, United States Department of Agriculture	English
ARS grasshopper species fact sheets	[ View URL]	United States	Guide, Reference works	Agricultural Research Services, United States Department of Agriculture	English
Arthropod and nematode parasites, parasitoids, and predators of Acrididae in America north of Mexico	View URL	United States	Technical report, Reference works	United States Department of Agriculture	English
Artificial Intelligence Helping African Farmers in the Fight Against Locusts	[ View URL]	Kenya	Media		English
As Locusts Swarmed East Africa, This Tech Helped Squash Them	[ View URL]	Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia	Media		English
Atlas of desert locust breeding habitats	[ View URL]	Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Egypt, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates	Guide, Instructional guides	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, George Basil Popov, G.B. Popov	English
Australian plague locust	View URL	Australia	Guide, Instructional guides		English
Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera)	View URL	Australia	Guide, Instructional guides	Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development	English
Australian Plague Locust Commission current locust situation	[ View URL]	Australia	Situation bulletin, Technical reports	Australian Plague Locust Commission	English
Australian Plague Locust Commission locust bulletin	[ View URL]	Australia	Situation bulletin, Technical reports	Australian Plague Locust Commission	English
Australian plague locust landholder control strategies for NSW	View URL	Australia	Guide, Instructional guides	Government of New South Wales	English
Australian plague locust online learning module	View URL	Australia	Guide, Instructional guides		English
Behind the success of desert locust control	View URL	Eritrea	Technical report, Technical reports		English
Besieged by locusts, South Africa's farmers fight back	[ View URL]	South Africa	Media, Interactive visual tools		English
Biblical plague or manageable threat?	[ View URL]	Kenya	Media		English
Billions of locusts are descending on Ethiopia	[ View URL]	Ethiopia	Media, Interactive visual tools		English
BioAcoustica	View URL	Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania	Information hub, Reference works	Edward Baker, S. D. Rycroft, Jon Hill, Vincent S. Smith	English
Biolib.cz Orthoptera	View URL	Europe	Information hub, Reference works		English
Biopesticides: operational use against locusts	View URL	Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania	Guide, Interactive visual tools	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	Arabic, English, French, Russian
Birds and Wildlife as Grasshopper Predators	View URL	United States	Guide, Instructional guides		English
Brown locust outbreaks threaten Southern Africa	[ View URL]	South Africa	Media		English
Brown locusts have survived a long drought in South Africa – here’s how	[ View URL]	South Africa	Media		English
Cabi Compendium	View URL		Information hub, Reference works	Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Michel Lecoq	English
CABI contributes to study which reveals yellow-spined bamboo locust prefers wheat and rice to maize	[ View URL]	China	Media	National Institutes of Health, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International	English
CABI Green Muscle education videos	[ View URL]	Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania	Guide, Interactive visual tools	Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International	Arabic, French, Russian, English
Calendars 2023 on locust control safety measures	[ View URL]	Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia (country)	Guide, Instructional guides	FAO Locust Watch in Caucasus and Central Asia, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	Azerbaijani, Armenian, Georgian
Cao Bang controls grasshoppers destroying crops	[ View URL]	Vietnam	Media		English
CARMA	View URL	United States	Guide, Interactive visual tools	Scott Shell Extension Entomology, University of Wyoming	English
Cerca del final del 2020 langostas atacan colonias de Mérida	[ View URL]	Mexico	Media		Spanish
Chinese Authorities Deploy Fleets of Drones to Battle Locust Invasion	[ View URL]	China	Media		English
CIRAD pest locust website	View URL	Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania	Information hub, Reference works	The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development	French, English
Climate change and locusts Pakistan	View URL	Pakistan	Technical report, Reference works	Sustainable Development Policy Institute	English
Climate change favours locust swarms, India increasingly at risk	[ View URL]	India	Media		English
Combatting desert locust in India	[ View URL]	India	Media	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) ad hoc, emergency, other meetings	[ View URL]	Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia	Technical report, Reference works	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) committee meetings	[ View URL]	Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia	Technical report, Technical reports	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) locust management materials	[ View URL]		Guide, Instructional guides	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) promotional materials	[ View URL]	Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia	Media, Interactive visual tools	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) survey reports	[ View URL]	Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia	Technical report, Technical reports	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) training and workshops	[ View URL]	Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somalia	Technical report, Technical reports	Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Common Grasshoppers of Montana Cropland and Rangeland	View URL	United States	Guide, Reference works	Montana State University	English
Common Wyoming pest grasshoppers	View URL		Guide, Reference works	University of Wyoming, Scott Schell, Alexandre Latchininsky, B.A. Shambaugh	English
Community management of pest grasshoppers and locusts in Senegal	[ View URL]	Senegal	Guide, Reference works	Global Locust Initiative, United States Agency for International Development, Directorate of Plant Protection	Wolof, French, English
Community-wide grasshopper control	View URL	United States	Guide, Instructional guides	Utah State University, Marion Murray	English
Control of the locust plague in Madagascar 2014	View URL	Madagascar	Guide, Interactive visual tools	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English, French
Control recommendations for locust and grasshoppers in Argentina	View URL	Argentina	Guide, Instructional guides	Chamber of Agricultural Health and Fertilizers, The National Food Safety and Quality Service	Spanish
Court rejects federal pesticide-spraying program on millions of acres of western rangelands	[ View URL]	United States	Media		English
Crickets and grasshoppers in Utah	View URL	United States	Technical report, Technical reports	Utah State University	English
Crop & pest report	View URL	United States	Information hub, Technical reports	North Dakota State University	English
Crop prospects and food situation	View URL	Northern America, Latin America and the Caribbean	Technical report, Technical reports	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English
Crunch, Crunch: Africa's Locust Outbreak Is Far From Over	[ View URL]	Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia	Media		English
Desert Locust ‘re-invasion’ threatens millions across Horn of Africa	[ View URL]	Eastern Africa	Media	United Nations	English
Desert locust control in Somalia between 2019 and 2021	[ View URL]	Somalia	Technical report, Technical reports		English
Desert locust field handbook	View URL	Israel, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Somalia, South Sudan, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Libya, Kenya, India, Oman, Bahrain, Djibouti, Yemen, Uganda, Egypt, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Palestine, Tanzania, Syria, Iran, Turkey	Guide, Instructional guides	Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International	English
Desert Locust Forecasting: Art or Science?	[ View URL]	Africa, Asia	Guide, Interactive visual tools	FAO Desert Locust Information Service, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	English

How to differentiate the sexes

The sex of a locust or grasshopper is identified by the shape of the cercus. In males, the tegmina often extends beyond or equal to the apices of the hind femora, while in females, they generally fall slightly short of reaching the apex of the abdomen, and male furculae are characterized by their short, swollen, and triangular shape.^[1]

Identifying nymphal stages

Locusts and grasshoppers go through several developmental stages called instars before reaching adulthood. Each instar is a stage between molts, during which the grasshopper sheds its exoskeleton to grow. Locust/grasshopper development begins with the egg stage, where eggs are laid in soil or vegetation. After hatching, grasshoppers go through several immature nymph stages. Each instar is a progressively larger nymph that more closely resembles the adult form. There are usually five instars before the final molt to an adult grasshopper, which is sexually mature and capable of reproduction and flight.

First instar

In the first instar, grasshoppers are very small, typically only a few millimeters in length. Their wing buds are either absent or extremely tiny. These nymphs usually exhibit lighter coloration with minimal markings. The antennae are short and have fewer segments compared to later stages. Their hind legs are relatively short and underdeveloped, and their exoskeleton is soft and flexible, offering limited protection.

Second instar

During the second instar, grasshoppers grow slightly larger than in the first instar. Wing buds start to form but remain quite small. Coloration begins to develop more distinctively, although still not fully pronounced. The antennae grow longer and gain more segments. Hind legs start to lengthen but are still not fully developed, and the exoskeleton becomes somewhat harder but remains relatively soft.

Third instar

By the third instar, grasshoppers are noticeably larger. Wing buds become more pronounced but are not yet functional. Color patterns and markings start to resemble those of the adult. The antennae continue to grow longer and more segmented. Hind legs show significant development, becoming stronger and more robust. The exoskeleton hardens further, providing better protection.

Fourth instar

In the fourth instar, grasshoppers reach a significantly larger size. Wing buds are well-developed but still not capable of flight. The color patterns become more defined, closely mirroring the adult form. Antennae grow longer and more segmented. Hind legs are almost fully developed, displaying increased strength and length. The exoskeleton becomes harder and more protective.

Fith instar

During the fifth instar, grasshoppers grow larger, approaching adult size. Wing buds are large and almost fully developed, showing adult wing patterns. The coloration and markings are fully developed, closely resembling the adult. Antennae reach nearly adult length with full segmentation. Hind legs are fully developed, strong, and capable of powerful jumps. The exoskeleton is hard and fully protective, similar to that of the adult.

Sixth instar

In species with more instars, the sixth instar sees grasshoppers reaching maximum size before adulthood. Wings are fully developed but not yet functional for flight. The coloration and patterns are completely mature, mirroring the adult appearance. Antennae are at full adult length with complete segmentation. Hind legs are strong and robust, fully developed for jumping. The exoskeleton is hard and fully protective, preparing for the final molt to adulthood.

Adult stage

As adults, grasshoppers reach their full size. Their wings are fully developed and functional for flight. The coloration and patterns are mature and fully defined. Antennae are at full length and segmentation. Hind legs are strong and robust, fully developed for powerful jumps. The exoskeleton is hard and fully protective, marking the completion of their development.

References

↑ Vickery VR and Kevan DKM (1985) The grasshopper, crickets, and related insects of Canada and adjacent regions. Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario. Publication Number 1777. 918 pp.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Shotwell RL (1941) Life histories and habits of some grasshoppers of economic importance on the Great Plains (Vol. Technical Bulletin No. 774). United States Department of Agriculture.

[Vickery_and_Kevan_1985-1] Vickery VR and Kevan DKM (1985) The grasshopper, crickets, and related insects of Canada and adjacent regions. Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario. Publication Number 1777. 918 pp.

[Shotwell_1941-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Shotwell RL (1941) Life histories and habits of some grasshoppers of economic importance on the Great Plains (Vol. Technical Bulletin No. 774). United States Department of Agriculture.

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