American Grasshopper Identification Guide
Learn to identify this large, speckled-winged grasshopper common to shrubs and gardens in the southern US.
Read the full American Grasshopper encyclopedia entry →
Key Visual Features
The American grasshopper (Schistocerca americana) is a large, robust grasshopper, with adults typically measuring 1.75 to 2.75 inches long, among the bigger grasshopper species commonly encountered in the southern United States.
- Color: Brown to reddish-brown or tan body, often with a pale cream or yellowish stripe running down the center of the back from the head to the wingtips.
- Wings: Long wings extending well past the tip of the abdomen, finely speckled with small dark spots, giving them a mottled or freckled appearance.
- Body shape: Elongated and somewhat narrow compared to heavier-bodied grasshoppers, with a pointed head profile.
- Legs: Strong hind legs for jumping, often with subtle banding, and capable flight thanks to the long wings.
- Antennae: Short, thickened antennae typical of field grasshoppers.
Where and When You'll See It
American grasshoppers are common across the southeastern United States, often found in shrubs, hedgerows, trees, and garden vegetation rather than open grass alone, distinguishing them somewhat from strictly ground-dwelling grasshoppers. They are active from summer through fall and can occur in large numbers on shrubby or woody plants, sometimes gathering in bigger aggregations when conditions favor population growth.
Similar-Looking Species
- Differential grasshopper: Also large, but has a bold black herringbone pattern on yellow hind legs, which the American grasshopper lacks; the American grasshopper's wings are speckled rather than plain.
- Two-striped grasshopper: Has a pair of pale stripes down the back rather than the single central stripe typical of the American grasshopper, and generally prefers grassy rather than shrubby habitats.
- Desert locust and migratory locust: Related genus-level relatives (in the case of desert locust) but occur in different world regions and show strong density-dependent color/behavior changes not typical of the American grasshopper.
Quick ID Checklist
- Large body, 1.75-2.75 inches, brown to reddish-brown
- Single pale stripe down the center of the back
- Long wings with fine dark speckling
- Found on shrubs, hedges, and garden plants rather than just open ground
- Active summer through fall across the southeastern United States
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes the American grasshopper's wings?
Its long wings are finely speckled with small dark spots, giving them a mottled, freckled look rather than a plain or banded pattern.
Does the American grasshopper have a stripe on its back?
Yes, most individuals show a pale cream or yellowish stripe running down the center of the back from the head to the wingtips.
Where is the American grasshopper typically found?
It's common in the southeastern United States, often on shrubs, hedgerows, and garden vegetation rather than strictly in open grassy areas.
How is it different from the differential grasshopper?
The differential grasshopper has a bold black chevron pattern on yellow hind legs and plain wings, while the American grasshopper has speckled wings and a central back stripe without the leg chevron pattern.