The
differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) is a species
of grasshopper belonging to the genus Melanoplus found throughout
northern Mexico, central United States and southern Ontario,
Canada. It is considered a pest in most of its range.
Adult males
grow to 28–37 mm and females grow to 34–50 mm. They are
brownish or greenish and as they age the color will darken. There
are black grooves on the pronotum. The male has bootlike appendages
at the end of its abdominal tip. There are inverted chevrons along
the hind femur and the hind part the tibia is yellowish with black
spikes. All of the adults tarsi are yellow along with its antennae,
which in some cases are reddish yellow.
Range and
habitat: Found throughout most of the United States except for the
east coast and northwest. Within its range the M. differentialis is
most often found in heavily weeded areas and grasslands, they can
even be spotted in vacant lots and other urban areas. This species
is not migratory but can travel within a few miles to search for
food.
Life cycle:
An adult female will lay up to 8 egg masses in soft soil, each of
these masses can contain up to 11 eggs. Once these eggs are laid
about 54% of them will hatch in about 2 weeks. There is only one
generation a year which occurs in early summer. Once they hatch the
nymphs take around 32 days to become complete adults. Adults are
most active during the summer while the larvae are active in the
spring. It is polyphagous, eating both grasses and forbs but
experiments have shown that they grow faster if feed forbs. The
most favored food plants tend to be Giant ragweed (Ambrosia
trifida), Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Prickly lettuce
(Lactuca serriola). Adults can pick up on a chemical change in
wilted lettuce and sunflowers and will tend to avoid these
plants.
