Differential grasshopper vs Plains lubber grasshopper
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a differential grasshopper from a plains lubber grasshopper, and whether either one bites or stings.
Differential grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
Plains lubber grasshopper
Brachystola magna
≠The key differences
Melanoplus differentialis is smaller, has fully developed wings for flight and different pronotal and hind-leg markings compared with the bulky, short-winged plains lubber.
⚖︎Side by side
| Differential grasshopper | Plains lubber grasshopper | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Size | Body length 25-50 mm (females generally larger than males) | 45-75 mm body length (very large for a grasshopper) |
| Colours | Tan, Brown, Yellow-green, Black markings | Brown, Olive, Black, Reddish |
| Family | Acrididae | Romaleidae |
| Habitat | Grasslands, pastures, roadside vegetation, lawns, croplands and other open, grassy or weedy areas | Dry to mesic grasslands, pastures, roadside vegetation and field margins of the Great Plains and adjacent regions |
| Range | Much of the United States (absent from the Pacific Northwest and the far north) south into northern Mexico | Great Plains and adjacent central-southern North America (central United States and northern Mexico) |
| Active | Late spring to early autumn; most visible and abundant in mid to late summer during daytime | Nymphs in late spring and summer; adults most common mid-summer to early fall, active during the day |
| Pest? | Yes | Yes |
🔍How to spot a differential grasshopper
- Large, robust short-horned grasshopper with body length about 25-50 mm; females larger than males.
- Olive-green to yellowish-brown, fairly smooth and shiny body; older adults may be darker.
- Distinctive black chevron (herringbone) markings on the yellow hind femurs; hind tibiae yellow with black spines.
- Wings long in adults, reaching or extending beyond the abdomen; strong jumping hind legs.
🔍How to spot a plains lubber grasshopper
- Very large, bulky grasshopper: body length typically 45-75 mm
- Short wings or reduced flight ability — adults are slow-moving and often unable to fly
- Overall brown, olive, or dark mottled coloration, sometimes with reddish tones in juveniles
- Robust head and pronotum; large hind femora for jumping but not for sustained flight
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a differential grasshopper and a plains lubber grasshopper?
Melanoplus differentialis is smaller, has fully developed wings for flight and different pronotal and hind-leg markings compared with the bulky, short-winged plains lubber.
Is a differential grasshopper or a plains lubber grasshopper more dangerous?
Differential grasshopper: Non-toxic. Plains lubber grasshopper: Non-toxic. Not dangerous to people. Plains lubbers are not venomous and do not transmit disease.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.