Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper
Arphia conspersa
This record describes Arphia conspersa (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Arphiini
- Genus
- Arphia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
A huge area from westernmost Ontario and Wisconsin south to east central Texas and on to the trans-volcanic belt of Mexico; westward to Pacific Coast north almost to the Arctic of Canada and Alaska. Not in Baja California and much of California where replaced by A. ramona & behrensi .
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Overwinters as nearly mature nymph. Adults first appear in late winter or early spring, and most abundant in spring, some occasionally surviving into summer and autumn, especially in cool summer climates. Eggs, laid in ground, apparently hatch in summer.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Arphia conspersa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by cotinis , Phillip Harpootlian , David Ferguson , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper
How big is Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper?
male 20-25 mm, female 24-37 mm
Where is Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper found?
Range: A huge area from westernmost Ontario and Wisconsin south to east central Texas and on to the trans-volcanic belt of Mexico; westward to Pacific Coast north almost to the Arctic of Canada and Alaska. Not in Baja California and much of California where replaced by A. ramona & behrensi .
What is the life cycle of a Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper?
Overwinters as nearly mature nymph. Adults first appear in late winter or early spring, and most abundant in spring, some occasionally surviving into summer and autumn, especially in cool summer climates. Eggs, laid in ground, apparently hatch in summer.