Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper
Cratypedes lateritius
This record describes Cratypedes lateritius (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
- Hippiscini
- Genus
- Cratypedes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly in Great Basin desert and grassland on exposed areas associated with Big Sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ) or occasionally other shrubs, particularly favors somewhat elevated or sloping ground in gently hilly or broken areas. Apparently also sometimes in large openings in sparsely wooded areas.
Geographic Range
Between the Cascades/Sierra Nevada and the Rockies. Found from s. British Columbia to s. California, east across most of Nevada and s. Idaho into sw. Wyoming, w. Utah and extreme nw. Arizona. Should be watched for where Wyoming Basin crosses into ne. Utah and nw. Colorado.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Probably mostly grasses, and favors grasses in captivity. However, this is apparently not documented in the field, and some areas where found have very little if any grass growing. The strong association with Sagebrush is interesting, and perhaps this plant is used for food, though there is no proof of this.
Life History
Eggs hatch in late summer/autumn and nymphs overwinter. Adults in spring, mostly maturing in April (sometimes March), and mostly gone by mid June.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Names applied to western species in this tribe (mostly as Xanthippus, Hippiscus , or Cratypedes ) have been confused in literature, and a number of names have been variously misapplied. This species has often been refered to as X. montanus , which as currently defined is a very different species. Conversely, the name C. lateritius has been misapplied to variants of other species.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Cratypedes lateritius. 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 Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joyce Gross; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper
How big is Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper?
Smallish to medium sized for the group. Males mostly under 30 mm long and females mostly under 45 mm long (but sometimes larger, particularly toward the west).
Where is Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly in Great Basin desert and grassland on exposed areas associated with Big Sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ) or occasionally other shrubs, particularly favors somewhat elevated or sloping ground in gently hilly or broken areas. Apparently also sometimes in large openings in sparsely wooded areas. |
| Range | Between the Cascades/Sierra Nevada and the Rockies. Found from s. British Columbia to s. California, east across most of Nevada and s. Idaho into sw. Wyoming, w. Utah and extreme nw. Arizona. Should be watched for where Wyoming Basin crosses into ne. Utah and nw. Colorado. |
What does Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper includes Probably mostly grasses, and favors grasses in captivity. However, this is apparently not documented in the field, and some areas where found have very little if any grass growing. The strong association with Sagebrush is interesting, and perhaps this plant is used for food, though there is no proof of this..
What is the life cycle of a Nevada Red-winged Grasshopper?
Eggs hatch in late summer/autumn and nymphs overwinter. Adults in spring, mostly maturing in April (sometimes March), and mostly gone by mid June.