Sulphur-winged Grasshopper
Arphia sulphurea
This record describes Arphia sulphurea (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
Habitat
Open grassy or weedy areas, such as prairies, fields, roadsides, glades, etc.
Geographic Range
Eastern North America, east from the middle tier of states (Manitoba to Texas), a little into southern Canada. Not in any but northernmost Florida.
Seasonal Activity
Spring, summer. May-August (Michigan). April-August (North Carolina)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grasses, some forbs.
Life History
Overwinters as nearly grown nymphs, and adults appear in early spring (a few as early as February in some areas). Adults most common in most areas in May and June. Mostly gone by sometime in July, but some individuals may live into August or September (they seem to live longer in the south).
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Arphia sulphurea. 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 Sulphur-winged Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , marcie oconnor , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Sulphur-winged Grasshopper
How big is Sulphur-winged Grasshopper?
23-38 mm (males 23-31, females 28-38 mm)
Where is Sulphur-winged Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open grassy or weedy areas, such as prairies, fields, roadsides, glades, etc. |
| Range | Eastern North America, east from the middle tier of states (Manitoba to Texas), a little into southern Canada. Not in any but northernmost Florida. |
What does Sulphur-winged Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Sulphur-winged Grasshopper includes Grasses, some forbs..
When is Sulphur-winged Grasshopper active?
Sulphur-winged Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Spring, summer. May-August (Michigan). April-August (North Carolina).
What is the life cycle of a Sulphur-winged Grasshopper?
Overwinters as nearly grown nymphs, and adults appear in early spring (a few as early as February in some areas). Adults most common in most areas in May and June. Mostly gone by sometime in July, but some individuals may live into August or September (they seem to live longer in the south).