Flabellate grasshopper (Melanoplus occidentalis)

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Melanoplus occidentalis
Other common names
Occidental grasshopper
Taxonomic classification
Suborder:	Caelifera
Family:	Acrididae
Subfamily:	Melanoplinae
Tribe:	Melanoplini
Genus:	Melanoplus
Scientific name
Melanoplus occidentalis (Thomas, 1872)
Geography
Native countries:
United States Mexico Canada
Pest status
Known pest

Overview

The Flabellate grasshopper (Melanoplus occidentalis) can be most commonly found in the western United States and some parts of Canada, competing with livestock in prairies and grasslands for vegetation. Species migrations have not been recorded, although 'accidental' individuals can appear in the oddest places like the Rocky Mountains or glaciers in Montana.

Taxonomy

For full nomenclature and taxonomic details of this taxon, see Orthoptera Species File No subspecies recorded for this taxon.

Other common names

• Flabellate grasshopper

Distribution

Densities are greatest in mixed grass prairies throughout the western US and Canadian provinces. For more information on this species distribution and its densities in the state of Wyoming see [Grasshoppers of the West]

Identification

Has a posternal tubercle (a small knob-like protrusion) between front legs. Tegmina (thick front wing of an orthopteran) marked with large irregular spots. Pronotum (saddle-shaped structure behind the head) is not crested, is more condensed and prominent saddle shape in gregarious phase.

Phase	Stage	Color	Body length
Gregarious	nymph (1st - 2nd instar)	black	3.8-4.9 mm
Gregarious	nymph (3rd to 4th instar)	yellow with black	6.1-8.6 mm
Solitarious	nymph	green	15-16.5 mm
Gregarious	immature adult	pink
Gregarious	mature adult	yellow
Solitarious	adult	sandy, grey or brown, common light colored median stripe on the pronotum	Male: 19.2-21 mm Female: 22-24 mm

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Specimen contributors for this species

Natural history collections are built by people. The specimens that document this species were collected in the field, preserved in collections, and identified by generations of researchers and naturalists. Bionomia helps make these often-overlooked contributions visible by linking specimen records to the people behind them.

The contributors shown here are drawn from specimen records made available through GBIF and attributed to individuals by Bionomia.

Identified by

These people examined specimens and determined their taxonomic identity—an essential step in turning a collected specimen into a useful biodiversity record.

• Tyler Grant — 8 specimens identified