Bug Identifier
Differential Grasshopper nymph
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
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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