Latin Name:
Melanoplus bivittatus (Say)
(R. Bercha, det.)
Length: 28 - 41 mm
Range: Southern 2/3 of Alberta
Habitat:
Moist meadows, tall grass
prairie, crop borders,
roadsides, and ditch banks.
Time of year seen: June to October (Additional Sightings)
Diet: Grasses and cereals
Other: M. bivittatus is a large grasshopper that is typically found in moist habitats. It is easily identified by a pair of pale yellow stripes running along the top of it body from above it's eyes to the hind tip of it's wings. Upper body color is typically bright apple green to yellowish green and the hind tibia ranges from red to bluish to greenish. The females are generally poor fliers while the males fly well. There is one generation per year with larger populations occurring every second year. Numerous natural enemies attack M. bivittatus including parasitic wasps, nematodes, parasitic mites and bacteria. Economically the Two-striped Grasshopper may cause severe damage to corn, strawberry, tobacco and alfalfa crops. (Vickery and Kevan, 1985)
Location: Silverton, BC
Date: Aug 13, 2005
