Elegant Grasshopper
Dichromorpha elegans
This record describes Dichromorpha elegans (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
One sulcus crossing pronotum, as opposed to D. viridis which has two.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Dichromorpha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly moist marshy places, most often in wooded areas.
Geographic Range
New York to Texas, mostly on Coastal Plain
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as eggs, with adults summer and early autumn
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Dichromorpha elegans. 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 Elegant Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Elegant Grasshopper
What is Elegant Grasshopper?
Elegant Grasshopper (Dichromorpha elegans) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Elegant Grasshopper?
One sulcus crossing pronotum, as opposed to D. viridis which has two.
Where is Elegant Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly moist marshy places, most often in wooded areas. |
| Range | New York to Texas, mostly on Coastal Plain |
When is Elegant Grasshopper active?
Elegant Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Overwinters as eggs, with adults summer and early autumn.