Melanoplus foxi

Melanoplus foxi Hebard, 1923
Fox's Short-wing grasshopper

Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: GU

State Rank: S1

Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes

SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No

SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes

2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Highest Conservation Concern

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 4

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Sandhills and mixed forests with scrubby undergrowth

Description

A small grasshopper (10-27 mm in length). Brownish in color with black stripe extending laterally from behind the eye down the thorax. Hind tibia are blueish-gray. The male cerci are slender in distal two-thirds, and slightly enlarged and angulate ventro-distad. This species has short wings and is incapable of flight, but is a very strong jumper.

Similar Species

Similar to some other species of the Melanoplus puer species group (Sensu Lato) in southern Georgia, but can be distiguished from them by the shape of the male cerci and internal genitalia.

Habitat

Scrubby undergrowth among longleaf pine woodlands and savannas.

Diet

Probably a generalist herbivore.

Life History

Like all Orthopterans, the Melanoplus foxi undergoes an incomplete metamorphosis. Adults can be found throught the summer months.

Survey Recommendations

Walk through suitable habitat to flush Melanoplus from resting. Catch specimens with a net to confirm ID.

Range

Melanoplus foxi is endemic to the North American Coastal Plain of Georgia.

Threats

Timber cutting of the savannas where these grasshoppers are found is their most immediate threat. Also, absence of periodic fires needed to maintain the habitat are likely a contributing factor to declines.

SWAP 2025 Threat Matrix

Threat 1 Threat 2 Threat 3

General Threat Residential & commercial development Natural system modifications Agriculture & aquaculture

Specific Threat None None None

	Threat 1	Threat 2	Threat 3
General Threat	Residential & commercial development	Natural system modifications	Agriculture & aquaculture
Specific Threat	None	None	None

Georgia Conservation Status

Melanoplus foxi is endemic to the North American Coastal Plain of Georgia. There are currently a few exant populatations known, some of which are on public land.

Conservation Management Recommendations

Protect savannas where this species is known to occur from development and timber harvests. Reintroduce fire to retain an open canopy, where possible.

SWAP 2025 Conservation Actions:

Action 1: Protect key populations using land acquisition or easements
Action 2: Improve habitat using prescribed fire
Action 3: Protect known populations on and near state conservation lands
Action 4: Complete a distributional survey to assess current range, conservation status or to identify best populations
Action 5: Reassess the conservation status of SGCN before the next revision of Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan

References

Hubble, T.H. 1932. A revision of the Puer Group of the North American genus Melanoplus with remarks on the taxonomic value of the concealed male genitalia in the Cyrtacanthacrininae. (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Miscellaneous Publications of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology No. 23. 64 pp.

Woller, D.A. and J.G. Hill 2015. Melanoplus foxi Hebard, 1923 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae): recently rediscovered after almost 60 years using historical field notes. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 141: 545-574.

Authors of Account

JoVonn G. Hill and Brady S. Dunaway

Date Compiled or Updated

12/5/2019