An incredible amount of grasshopper species live in Idaho!

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.

5 Grasshoppers in Idaho:

#1. Two-striped Grasshopper

Melanoplus bivittatus

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 Idaho!

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. 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 Idaho.

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.

#3. 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 Idaho!

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!

#4. Greater Anglewing

Microcentrum rhombifolium

Adults are 2.0–2.6 in (50–65 mm) long.
They are bright green to yellowish.
Their broad and leaf-like wings come to a sharp peak above their bodies.

You can find Greater Anglewings among shrubs and trees in Idaho, but picking them out can be difficult! These katydids are masters of camouflage, with wings that mimic leaves and coloring that helps them blend right in.

Adults are active in late summer through fall. Listen for their call, which is a series of clicks in an even pattern, repeated 10-20 times in a row.

#5. 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 Idaho.

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 Idaho?

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

Do you need additional help identifying grasshoppers in Idaho?

If so, check out this excellent ID guide!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects of North America

5 Grasshopper Species found in Idaho!