Field Guide to Common Western Grasshoppers

Third Edition, February 2002
By Robert E. Pfadt, University of Wyoming
Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 912
This handy guide from Dr. Robert Pfadt includes information on grasshopper biology, anatomy, populations and life cycles. It also shows how to survey grasshoppers and develop a grasshopper collection.

Grasshopper Species Fact Sheets

By Robert E. Pfadt, University of Wyoming
Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 912
This collection of 60 species fact sheets features distribution maps and color photographs for each species, as well as information on their economic importance, identification and biology. Four new fact sheets written by Dr. Pfadt in 2002 have been added.

Naturalist's Guides for Grasshoppers of the Canadian Prairies and Northern Great Plains

By Dan Johnson, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Grassland Ecosystems, University of Lethbridge
These naturalist's guides for spur-throated grasshoppers, band-winged grasshoppers and slant-faced grasshoppers are written in non-technical language for the general public. They feature pictures, descriptions and natural history information on the major grasshopper species in each subfamily. They were originally published in Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands, which supports the grasslands project of the Biological Survey of Canada. Check back for future guides on alpine grasshoppers and Tettigoniidae (including Mormon Crickets). You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® to view the guides.

Spur-throated grasshoppers (PDF - 739KB)
Band-winged grasshoppers (PDF - 652KB)
Slant-faced grasshoppers (PDF - 476KB)

Grasshoppers (Acrididae) of Colorado: Identification, Biology and Management

By J.L. Capinera and T.S. Sechrist
Colorado State University Experiment Station Bulletin No. 584S
Includes an illustrated dichotomous key to the adult grasshoppers of Colorado, as well as information on seasonal occurrence, distribution, host plant preferences and economic importance for over 70 grasshopper species. Although developed for use in Colorado, this manual is useful throughout the western U.S. This original printed text has been formatted for the web by the University of Wyoming at Laramie and is included here with their permission. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

Hopper Helper

By Wendal Cushing
Hopper Helper provides field personnel with an easy-to-use guide for survey operations while in the field. The guide incorporates information on the life stages and species of grasshoppers found in southwestern North Dakota and on western rangeland. Data for this reference were based on studies done in the Grasshopper Integrated Pest Management (GHIPM) Project demonstration area in McKenzie County, ND. Please note: Links to Hopper Helper will take you to the Grasshopper IPM User Handbook. Click your “back” arrow to return to this section.

Orthoptera of the Northern Great Plains

By Gerald M. Fauske, North Dakota State University
This online publication is designed to allow the identification of Orthoptera occurring in the Northern Great Plains. Every species known to occur in either North Dakota or South Dakota is included within the keys. Most species have an additional page of characters and a map showing known distribution records in North and South Dakota. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

A Manual of the Grasshoppers of New Mexico (Orthoptera: Acrididae and Romaleidae)

By D. B. Richman, D. C. Lightfoot, C. A. Sutherland, and D. J. Ferguson. Illustrated by Lonnie Black
An online publication of a New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service manual which catalogs known grasshopper fauna for New Mexico and aids in identification of various species known or suspected to occur in the state. The original printed text has been formatted for the web by the University of Wyoming at Laramie. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

Grasshoppers of Wisconsin

By Kathryn Kirk and Charles R. Bomar
This free 150-page booklet provides the first ever comprehensive up-to-date reference for all Wisconsin grasshopper species. It is available on the web or can be ordered from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This guide provides the first comprehensive treatment of Wisconsin acridids and includes keys for identification of species, full color plates, maps of known species distributions, descriptions of habitats occupied, and comments on taxonomy, life history, and ecology of the individual species. The conservation status of each species is also assessed by listing its state rank. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

Electronic Key for Common Adult Grasshoppers of the Western United States (Lucid^TM Key)

Developed by USDA-APHIS-CPHST
For the novice, even commonly encountered grasshoppers can be difficult to identify using traditional dichotomous keys. The electronic key for Common Adult Rangeland Grasshoppers of the Western United States is a powerful yet simple interactive identification and information system that will allow you to identify 58 common adult grasshoppers. An identification proceeds as simple as this - by choosing more and more features from the list in Characters Available that describe your specimen.

Key to Wyoming Grasshoppers: Acrididae and Tetrigidae

By Robert E. Pfadt, Revised by Timothy J. McNary
This online publication is designed to allow the identification of grasshoppers occurring in Wyoming. This information has been formatted for the web by Spencer Shell at the University of Wyoming. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

Major Pest Grasshopper Species (western Great Plains)

A list of the 15 most important grasshopper pest species was assembled by grasshopper researchers at the University of Wyoming, and then divided into pests of rangeland and pests of croplands and disturbed areas. Most species of grasshoppers are inocuous and it is important to know if a grasshopper population is primarily comprised of pest species. The site is designed to help in identifying nymphs and adults of the 15 pest species. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

Identification Guides for Pest Grasshoppers in Nebraska

By University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Color, 2-page PDF grasshopper identification guides for the major pest grasshopper species in Nebraska include: Rangeland Grasshoppers: Fall/Spring Feeding Species; Rangeland Grasshoppers: Summer Feeding Species; and Cropland Grasshoppers: Summer Feeding Species. You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® to view and print the identification guides.

Grasshopper Identification Guide for Rangeland Grasshoppers, Fall/Spring Species (PDF - 180KB)
Grasshopper Identification Guide for Rangeland Grasshoppers, Summer Species (PDF - 208KB)
Grasshopper Identification Guide for Cropland Grasshoppers, Summer Species (PDF - 164KB)

Field Guide to Grasshoppers of Economic Importance in Nevada

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Service Publication EB 02-02
This 60-page guide is designed to simplify identification of economically damaging grasshopper species and Mormon crickets for ranchers, farmers, agency personnel, and other land managers in Nevada. The guide discusses grasshopper sampling methods and the integrated pest management of range, crop and garden grasshoppers. The species identified in the guide are responsible for most of the damage to Nevada’s range plants. Please note: You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® to view this publication.

Grasshoppers of Florida

By J. L. Capinera, C. W. Scherer, and J. M. Squitier, University of Florida
An online publication that is the first color guide to grasshoppers in the southeastern United States.  All of the acridid grasshoppers found in Florida are included in this guide. Over 100 color photographs, numerous line drawings, and nontechnical descriptions provide for easy and rapid identification. Also included are information on anatomy, life history, ecological significance, geographical distribution, and the management of grasshopper pests. Please note: This site will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

Orthoptera of Michigan —Biology, Keys, and Descriptions of Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets (PDF)

By Roger G. Bland, Central Michigan University, with contributions by Harvey E. Ballard, Jr., Ohio University. Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2815
Online publication includes keys to Michigan grasshoppers and pictures of a few species. The complete book (which can be purchased from MSU) contains keys for all families and species of grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets in Michigan and color images of 137 species. Text covers general biology, habitats, and state distribution. Please note: You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® to view this online publication. Also, this .PDF will open in a separate browser window. Close the window to return to this section.

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