Velvet-striped Grasshopper
Eritettix simplex
This record describes Eritettix simplex (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
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Eritettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Primarily open sunny short to mid grassland areas.
Geographic Range
Widespread from Alberta to Arizona and east to Atlantic. Mostly missing from Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain, most of Texas, and rare and local in central lowlands of Mississippi River basin. Also in much of northern Mexico
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Primarily grasses.
Life History
Overwinters as roughly 3rd to 5th instar nymphs. Adults mature in late winter or early spring and are mostly gone by summer. There is some evidence that there may be a later generation in some southern regions, which may be derived from spring hatching eggs, with nymphs and adults present in summer and some adults living into autumn. Eggs are laid in soil, mostly in spring.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Eritettix 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 Velvet-striped Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Tom Bentley , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Velvet-striped Grasshopper
How big is Velvet-striped Grasshopper?
Length from vertex of head to tip of wings (or abdomen). 14-21 mm males 19-26 mm females
Where is Velvet-striped Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Primarily open sunny short to mid grassland areas. |
| Range | Widespread from Alberta to Arizona and east to Atlantic. Mostly missing from Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain, most of Texas, and rare and local in central lowlands of Mississippi River basin. Also in much of northern Mexico |
What does Velvet-striped Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Velvet-striped Grasshopper includes Primarily grasses..
What is the life cycle of a Velvet-striped Grasshopper?
Overwinters as roughly 3rd to 5th instar nymphs. Adults mature in late winter or early spring and are mostly gone by summer. There is some evidence that there may be a later generation in some southern regions, which may be derived from spring hatching eggs, with nymphs and adults present in summer and some adults living into autumn. Eggs are laid in soil, mostly in spring.