Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper
Arphia simplex
This record describes Arphia simplex (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
One of our largest species of Arphia ; adults mostly in spring; hind wings most often yellow to orange with narrow band that has a long spur well-separated from the costal margin. One or two main veins on sides of folded tegmina are often pale and contrasting. Hind tibiae usually blue with white base and black both near base and tip. Fastigium deeply pitted, very narrow at front. In north part of range the face tends to protrude in front of eyes and look almost squared in profile, but this is less obvious southward. Flight crepitation (sometimes females fly silently) is a loud fast ticking or snapping, while apparently all other Arphia north of the Mexican border produce a more rapid harsh buzz (sometimes described as a crackling sound).
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
Habitat
Grasslands
Geographic Range
Southwestern Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota south to Louisiana and western Texas, southward east of the mountains to Hidalgo and Veracruz, Mexico. Also recorded from scattered locations in Missouri, Arkansas, and even Ohio. Recorded from southeastern Mexico (Chiapas & Campeche), but those may not be this species.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
In most of range overwinters as nymphs, with adults in spring. Adults appear mostly in April and May in much of Texas, but northward they become later and in Nebraska and Kansas are most common in June. Some may survive through the summer, but most don't. From central Texas southward into Mexico, adults and nymphs can be found year-round, with adults most common in spring and apparently again in autumn.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The published common name "Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper" is a partial misnomer on two counts. A large part of it's range is east and south of the Great Plains proper, but it does occurs mostly in prairie regions or in prairie-like openings in wooded areas, while it is absent from most of the flatter Plains country (though it does it does occur along the east edge and in the southernmost part of the Great Plains). Also, it commonly has orange as well as yellow, and rarely red hind wings.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Arphia simplex. 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 Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper
What is Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper?
Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper (Arphia simplex) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper?
28 - 55 mm, females larger than males
How do you identify Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper?
One of our largest species of Arphia ; adults mostly in spring; hind wings most often yellow to orange with narrow band that has a long spur well-separated from the costal margin. One or two main veins on sides of folded tegmina are often pale and contrasting. Hind tibiae usually blue with white base and black both near base and tip. Fastigium deeply pitted, very narrow at front. In north part of range the face tends to protrude in front of eyes and look almost squared in profile, but this is less obvious southward. Flight crepitation (sometimes females fly silently) is a loud fast ticking or snapping, while apparently all other Arphia north of the Mexican border produce a more rapid harsh buzz (sometimes described as a crackling sound).
Where is Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grasslands |
| Range | Southwestern Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota south to Louisiana and western Texas, southward east of the mountains to Hidalgo and Veracruz, Mexico. Also recorded from scattered locations in Missouri, Arkansas, and even Ohio. Recorded from southeastern Mexico (Chiapas & Campeche), but those may not be this species. |
What is the life cycle of a Plains Yellow-winged Grasshopper?
In most of range overwinters as nymphs, with adults in spring. Adults appear mostly in April and May in much of Texas, but northward they become later and in Nebraska and Kansas are most common in June. Some may survive through the summer, but most don't. From central Texas southward into Mexico, adults and nymphs can be found year-round, with adults most common in spring and apparently again in autumn.