Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1834-0114

Advisor

Hill, JoVonn Grady

Committee Member

Harris, Jeffrey W.,

Committee Member

Otte, Dan

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU Only 6 months

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Agricultural Life Sciences (Entomology)

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection

Abstract

The genus Melanoplus represents one of the most diverse groups of acridid grasshoppers in North America, comprising over 430 described species within the subfamily Melanoplinae. Among its various species groups, the Tribulus group consists of flightless grasshoppers typically found in open woodlands and forest margins, primarily in the eastern United States. The Melanoplus tribulus group was first established by Blatchley (1920) as Obovatipennis Group. However, since species groups are informal taxonomic units not governed by nomenclatural rules, the group later became known as the Tribulus group. It currently includes 11 taxa. These brachypterous species occur from New Jersey south Florida and west to east Texas and Missouri, with some species broadly distributed (M. tepidus) and others highly localized (M. tribuloides). Despite prior studies, populations remained understudied. This study revises the taxonomy of the Tribulus group using integrated morphological, morphometric, and distributional analyses to refine species boundaries and clarify evolutionary relationships.

Sponsorship (Optional)

US National Science Foundation (NSF) and College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University

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