Melanoplus angustipennis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Melanoplus angustipennis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Caelifera |
| Family: | Acrididae |
| Tribe: | Melanoplini |
| Genus: | Melanoplus |
| Species: | M. angustipennis |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanoplus angustipennis (Dodge, 1877) | |
Melanoplus angustipennis, known generally as narrow-winged spur-throat grasshopper, is a species of spur-throated grasshopper in the family Acrididae. Other common names include the narrow-winged sand grasshopper and narrow-winged locust.[1][2][3][4] It is found in North America.[1][5]
A medium-sized grasshopper, measuring 20-30mm in length. Females tend to be larger than males.[6] The slender-winged species can resemble Melanoplus sanguinipes, the narrow-winged grasshopper, and can be distinguished by the cercus, which on M. angustipennis are small and narrowed at the middle.[7] The hind femora are tan or pale yellow and the hind tibiae are reddish or blue.[8]
Life cycle
Narrow-winged sand grasshoppers hatch as nymphs in early to late May.[8] Nymphs develop to adults over the course of 36-42 days, enlarging to their full size and developing wings. The grasshopper adults are active from early July to the end of October.[6][9] They occur in open sandy grasslands, vegetated sand dunes, and disturbed areas such as roadsides or upland fields from mid-central United States to south central Canada.[8]
