Habitat

Metaleptea brevicornis are found in the northeastern United States, southeastern United States, and also Texas (Donato and Cigliano 2000). In Wisconsin, this species has been reported in Fon du Lac County (Kirk and Bomar 2005).
	Nymphs and adults are typically found in areas on sedges and grasses near water and near seacoasts. Grasshopper population seems to be at its highest when precipitation is low. In other words, they like dry weather! The exact reason is unknown but it is believed that increased precipitation may cause drowning and an increase in fungal pathogens (Burst et al. 2007).

Who lives with the Grasshoppers?

Grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera prefer grassland habitats. Grasshoppers can be found all throughout the world and the other organisms that share the grasslands can vary. Examples of other organisms that live with grasshoppers include: deer, rabbits, snakes, the Monarch Butterfly, crickets, ants, lady beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, and many other beetles (Hamilton Naturalists' Club Last update unknown).

Grasshoppers help recycle?!?

Grasshoppers (Orthoptera) have a major impact on plants because they change the way nitrogen cycles in their grassland habitat. They speed up the process of nitrogen recycling by eating plants that take longer to decompose. This in turn allows plant production to increase. Grasshoppers also benefit the plants with their feces (called frass) which give them nutrients. When grasshoppers die, their body decomposes and gives the soil mineral and vitamins (Gilroy 2011).

Agricultural Massacre!!

Grasshoppers do, however, have a negative effect on plants and crops. When grasshopper population is high, they create a lot of agricultural damage to alfalfa, soybeans, corn, cotton, clover, and tobacco. With the help of predators like birds, snakes, frogs, and even humans, they help control the grasshopper population (Glogoza and Weiss 1997).