An incredible amount of grasshopper species live in North Dakota!

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 North Dakota:

#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 North Dakota!

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

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 North Dakota.

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 North Dakota.

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 North Dakota.

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 North Dakota.

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.

Did you like learning about the grasshoppers that live in North Dakota?

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

Do you need additional help identifying grasshoppers in North Dakota?

If so, check out this excellent ID guide!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects of North America

5 Grasshopper Species found in North Dakota!