How to Classify Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are members of the order orthoptera, which also includes crickets and katydids. These insects share long back legs for jumping, hardened forewings and scraping teeth on the back legs. There are more than 20,000 different species around the world. The classification of different species is based on external physical characteristics of the larval and adult forms. Scientific names are made up of two parts--genus and species. Many grasshoppers are considered to be agricultural pests because of their feeding habits and large populations. Often, these problem species are the focus for identification guides.
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Instructions
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Check that the insect has typical grasshopper body parts, including elongated hind legs, chewing mouth parts, and hardened forewings (tegmina). Look for short antennae; a short, pointed ovipositor; feet with three segments; and a visible external tympanum (for hearing) on each side.
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Examine the body shape and size of the grasshopper.
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Note the body color and patterning of the grasshopper.
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Look at the antennae shape. Do they narrow anywhere? Do they have wider parts at the base or tip?
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Find the pronotum, a saddle-shaped zone behind the head. Feel the skin and note if it is smooth or rough. Look at the shape of the ridge down the center of the pronotum. Count the number of furrows across the ridge.
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Check the forelegs and hind legs, looking for distinctive features such as spines and color patterning.
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Look at the wings to find any patterning. Examine the external genitalia for distinctive structures and skin texture.
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Use a taxonomic field guide with a key to determine the grasshopper species. Follow the guide's flow chart to rule out dissimilar forms.
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Tips & Warnings
Photographs of live specimens, especially those not caught, allow for later classification. Very similar species may be impossible to distinguish without a live specimen. Always look for life history indicators, such as eggs and nymphs, to help with classification.
Identifying young grasshopper nymphs is difficult because of the absence of wings and external genitalia. Consult an expert, with a specimen or photograph, for authoritative classification.
