
Community identification
Differential Grasshopper nymph
Melanoplus differentialis
- Order & Family
- Orthoptera: Acrididae
- Size
- 1.5 to 2.5 inches (38 to 64 mm) as adults; nymph pictured
Natural Habitat
Fields, marshes, and residential gardens
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; eats many types of plants including grasses and crops
Behavior Patterns
Active during daylight; nymphs go through several molts before reaching adulthood
Risks & Benefits
Significant crop pest; an important food source for birds and spiders