7 Grasshopper Species found in Alberta!

An incredible amount of grasshopper species live in Alberta!

Types of common grasshoppers in Alberta

Trying to list them all would be impossible. 🙂

So below, you will find the most common and abundant insects found in the order Orthoptera. This includes not only grasshoppers but also crickets and katydids.

7 Grasshoppers in Alberta:


#1. Two-striped Grasshopper

  • Melanoplus bivittatus

Types of common grasshoppers in Alberta

  • Adults are typically 1.2 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) long.
  • They are usually green or tan, with two pale yellow stripes running along the top of their bodies from above their eyes to the hind tips of their wings.
  • They have green or buff hind tibia with black spines.

These grasshoppers are well adapted to various habitats in Alberta!

They can call so many areas home because of their diet. Two-striped Grasshoppers aren’t picky and will feed on grasses, herbaceous or woody plants, seed pods, flowers, and crops.

When food is scarce, Two-striped Grasshoppers scavenge on dead plants and animals. They also occasionally resort to cannibalism!

These grasshoppers can be a lot of fun to find and catch. However, many insect lovers have found out the hard way that Two-striped Grasshoppers are quick to bite when handled. 🙂


#2. Green-striped Grasshopper

  • Chortophaga viridifasciata

Types of common grasshoppers in Alberta

  • Adults are bright, grassy green with some pinkish brown on the legs and head.
  • They range in length from 1-1.5 in (23-38 mm)
  • Their wings are long and slender and usually a dull brown color.

Look for Green-striped Grasshoppers in moist areas of Alberta.

These insects are easiest to find in early summer when the adult females lay eggs. As the summer progresses, the grasshoppers move through the five stages of their life cycle. Because Green-striped Grasshoppers survive over winter and emerge as adults, they’re usually the first to appear in backyards!

You’re almost guaranteed to find these critters if you have a large yard or garden. They love to eat grass and other succulent plants, including many garden favorites!


#3. Carolina Grasshopper

  • Dissosteira carolina

  • Adults grow from 1.2-2.3 in (32–58 mm) in length.
  • Their coloring is a light brown to tan or gray, which allows them to hide in their environment.
  • They have large wings that flap dramatically in flight, and people often confuse them with butterflies.

Carolina Grasshoppers are found all over Alberta.

Their range includes many climates, and their diet varies depending on their habitat. For example, in pastureland or open fields, they primarily eat grasses. However, these grasshoppers will consume weeds and other less desirable plants in less fertile areas.

These grasshoppers are diurnal, meaning they are primarily active during the day and rest at night. However, don’t be surprised to find one near a light source in the late evening. They’re very attracted to lights! They live mostly on the ground and rarely climb or fly into trees.


#4. Fall Field Cricket

  • Gryllus pennsylvanicus

  • Adults are 0.6–1.0 in (15–25 mm) long.
  • Their coloring is dark brown to black, sometimes with a reddish tint.
  • They have very long antennae and short wings.

This species is one of the most widespread crickets in Alberta.

Fall Field Crickets are relatively large and easy to spot because of their dark color. As their name suggests, they live in open fields and yards with plenty of grass, their preferred food source. They also eat small invertebrates and insect eggs.

If you’ve heard these crickets chirping on a late summer evening, you know their call can be extremely loud! The males perform their call to attract females so that they can reproduce.


#5. Slender Meadow Katydid

  • Conocephalus fasciatus

  • Adults are 0.7-1 in (18–26 mm) long.
  • Their coloring is a combination of brown and green.
  • These insects have a slender body and long wings.

You can find Slender Meadow Katydids in various habitats in Alberta.

These insects prefer grassy or weedy land in pastures, open woods, and backyards. Unlike many of their relatives, this species has a soft call. It sounds like a series of clicks and buzzing, and each call lasts 1-20 seconds.

Slender Meadow Katydids eat grass and grass seeds, so anywhere with overgrown grasses is a good place to start searching for these bugs.


#6. Mormon Cricket

  • Anabrus simplex

  • Adults grow up to 3 inches (8 cm) long.
  • Most individuals are dark brown to black, although some females are bright green.
  • They have large, stocky bodies and relatively short legs.

Mormon Crickets are one of the largest crickets in Alberta!

Although their common name suggests they are crickets and look similar to grasshoppers, they are actually members of the shield-backed katydid family. You can see this hard outer shell in close-up pictures. Just look for the plate extending from the back of the head to the abdomen.

Although their population is usually rather low, swarms of Mormon Crickets do occur occasionally. These swarms form bands of crickets up to 100 per square meter, posing safety risks. For example, if a band of crickets crosses a highway, drivers can become distracted. Crickets crushed on roadways can even cause slippery conditions similar to ice!


#7. Crackling Forest Grasshopper

  • Trimerotropis verruculata

  • Adults are 1-1.5 in (28-38 mm) long.
  • Their coloring is a dull grayish-brown with light gray markings. It resembles granite.
  • They have stout, compact bodies and very short legs.

Crackling Forest Grasshoppers are found in mountainous forests in Alberta.

Their common name comes from the cracking noise they make in flight.

Their coloring is particularly useful as camouflage against their normal habitat, which includes rocky slopes, mountain ledges, and open mountain forests. They primarily eat grasses and forbs.


Did you like learning about the grasshoppers that live in Alberta?

Check out these ID guides that focus specifically on different insects and arachnids in Alberta.


Do you need additional help identifying grasshoppers in Alberta?

If so, check out this excellent ID guide!


Which of these grasshoppers have you seen in Alberta?

Leave a comment below!