Here is a list of Grasshopper species with their scientific name and a small description of each.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Hints for Identification
SPUR-THROATED GRASSHOPPERS
Melanoplinae
Fuzzy olive-green grasshopper
Campylacantha olivacea
short-winged; short hairs on prothorax
Post oak grasshopper
Dendrotettix quercus
oak woodlands; arboreal
Grass-green grasshopper
Hesperotettix speciosus
short-winged; red markings; bluish hind tibia
Purple Striped Grasshopper
Hesperotettix viridis pratensis
colourful, distinct red and white markings; blue tibia
Sage grasshopper
Hypochlora alba
short, pointed wings; host Artemesia
Narrow-winged spur-throat Melanoplus angustipennis
Two-striped grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus
2 yellow stripes from behind eyes onto forewings; hind femur black-striped, hind tibia blue
Pasture grasshopper
Melanoplus confusus
black stripe behind eye; hind tibia blue
Differential grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
hind femur marked w black chevrons
Red-legged grasshopper
Melanoplus femurrubrum femurrubrum
red hind tibia; hind femur dark-banded
Striped Sand Grasshopper
Melanoplus foedus
hind femur yellow, long forewings
Keeler grasshopper
Melanoplus keeleri luridus
red magenta hind tibia; forewings speckled
Packard grasshopper
Melanoplus packardii
2 dark stripes from head to wings
Grizzly Spur-throat grasshopper Melanoplus punctulatus camouflaged on lichen-covered tree bark
Migratory grasshopper
Melanoplus sanguinipes
dark line on the femur is broken, red legs; line of spots on forewing
Scudder’s spur-throat grasshopper
Melanoplus scudderi
rounded, short-wings; red hind tibia
Two-lined short-winged grasshopper
Paratylotropidia brunneri
short-winged; maroon hind tibia, distinctive white lines on thorax & wings
Largehead grasshopper
Phoetaliotes nebrascensis
short, pointed forewings; blue hind tibia,
SLANT-FACED GRASSHOPPERS
Gomphocerinae
White whiskers grasshopper
Ageneotettix deorum
thin, whitish antennae; forewings speckled; hind tibia orange
Striped grasshopper
Amphitornus coloradus
dark stripes head to forewings
Bighead grasshopper
Aulocara elliotti
over-sized head; blue hind tibia
Boopedon auriventris
sides of prothorax have 2 vertical lines
Boopedon gracile
sides of prothorax have 2 vertical lines+ top; hind tibia band tan on magenta
Harris sprinkled grasshopper
Chloealtis conspersa
moist habitat; female short-winged, male shiny black pronotum; uncommon
Short-winged green grasshopper
Dichromorpha viridis
green or brown; low areas, shady lawns
Velvet-stripped grasshopper
Eritettix simplex
antennae expanded tip; dark stripes on pronotum w/white, constricted, white mark on forewings
Two-striped slant-faced grasshopper
Mermiria bivittata maculipennis
dark stripe from eye to forewing, small white streak on forewing; antennae flat & expanded centrally
Mermiria picta neomexicana
no white streak; eye stripe brown
Obscure grasshopper
Opeia obscura
antennae flat & expanded centrally
Spotted-wing grasshopper Cordillacris occipitalis dark spots & speckled forewing edge; 2 cuts across pronotum
Slant-faced pasture grasshopper
Orphulella speciosa
dark spots on forewing, pronotum & abdomen; one cut across pronotum
Four-spotted grasshopper
Philobostroma quadrimaculatum
forewings 3-5 spotted; hind tibia orange
Short-winged toothpick grasshopper
Pseudopomala brachyptera
forewings short & pointed; antennae flat & expanded centrally
Admirable grasshopper
Syrbula admirabilis
sexes different;
BAND-WINGED GRASSHOPPERS
Oedipodinae
Speckle-winged grasshopper
Arphia conspersa
hindwing black spur in red; early spring
Arphia simplex
hindwing black spur in yellow; summer
Autumn yellow-winged grasshopper
Arphia xanthoptera
pronotum arched; late summer, fall
Green-striped grasshopper
Chortophaga viridifasciata
green & brown forms; hindwings colorless
Carolina grasshopper
Dissosteira carolina
hindwing black, spotted at tip
Dusky grasshopper
Encoptolophus sordidus
“X” on the pronotum
Three-banded grasshopper
Hadrotettix trifasciatus
bottom half of inside of femur is blue
Wrinkled grasshopper
Hippiscus rugosus
spring adults
Platt range grasshopper
Mestobregma plattei
second black on outside edge hindwing
Coral-winged grasshopper
Pardalophora apiculata
common in spring; red hindwing; forewing spots large
Haldeman’s grasshopper
Pardalophora haldemanii
forewing w/numerous spots; spring
Boll’s grasshopper
Spharagemon bolli
forewing w/2 faint stripes; hindwing pale yellow
Mottled sand grasshopper
Spharagemon collare
forewing w/3 faint stripes; pronotum ridged; hindwing spotted at tip
Orange-legged grasshopper
Spharagemon equale
forewing w/3 dark stripes, spotted at tip; hind tibia & inside femur orange
Kiowa grasshopper
Trachyrhachys kiowa
pronotun 2-notched; hind tibia blue
REALLY BIG GRASSHOPPERS
Cyrtacanthacridinae
vertical stripe in the eye (fresh specimen)
American grasshopper
Schistocerca americana americana
forewings spotted; pale dorsal stripe
Birdwing grasshopper
Schistocerca lineata
wings not speckled; yellow dorsal stripe
Obscure bird grasshopper
Schistocerca obscura
green; hind tibia black; yellow dorsal stripe
Romaleinae
Plains Lubber grasshopper
Brachystola magna
short-winged, flightless; heavy-bodied