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NO. 035Red-legged grasshopper illustrationIllustration · not shown at life size

Jumpers & hiders / Insect

Red-legged grasshopper

Melanoplus femurrubrum

AdultAn everyday search

Big back legs launch this grasshopper into the air. Look for red on the lower parts of those legs.

Let’s look closer

Little clues

Three things to notice.

  1. Red hind shins.

  2. Antennae shorter than the body.

  3. Large hind legs power jumps.

Out in the world

Where to look.

Around southeastern Wisconsin

Sunny grassland, late summer.

When to look

Summer into fall; late summer is a good time to look in grass.

Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.

A closer look

One clue is just the start.

Other grasshoppers can have red legs, too. Look at the whole animal instead of using just one mark.

A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.

For curious grownups, too

Read a little further.

Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.