Arroyo Grasshopper
Heliastus benjamini
This record describes Heliastus benjamini (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Smallish (mostly under 1.25 inches, i.e., 32 mm, long). Usually grayish or reddish brown (matching substrate), with contrasting dark cross bands. Hind wings basally red to rose-red with faint cloudy dark cross band. Hind femur internally yellow with three black cross bands (one across knee and others across mid-section). Hind tibiae basally black with a wide yellow portion then another blackish ring, and the remainder mostly red. Antannae long and dark (especially in males).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Hippiscini
- Genus
- Heliastus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly along arroyos and stream banks (often in canyon bottoms) on gravelly or rocky ground.
Geographic Range
southern Arizona, southern New Mexico (north past Santa Fe along Rio Grande valley), and west Texas southward across Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, and Sinaloa, Mexico; probably into Nayarit.
Seasonal Activity
Probably overwinters as eggs, hatching in spring, with adults by July or August and remaining into autumn.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The proper name for this species should be Heliastus nebulosus , since that species name is older than " benjamini ". However, that combination of genus and species name has yet to be published, and BugGuide is not a proper place to publish new combinations.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Heliastus benjamini. 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 Arroyo Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by cotinis , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Arroyo Grasshopper
What is Arroyo Grasshopper?
Arroyo Grasshopper (Heliastus benjamini) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Arroyo Grasshopper?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 18-23 mm |
| Female | 25-33 mm |
How do you identify Arroyo Grasshopper?
Smallish (mostly under 1.25 inches, i.e., 32 mm, long). Usually grayish or reddish brown (matching substrate), with contrasting dark cross bands. Hind wings basally red to rose-red with faint cloudy dark cross band. Hind femur internally yellow with three black cross bands (one across knee and others across mid-section). Hind tibiae basally black with a wide yellow portion then another blackish ring, and the remainder mostly red. Antannae long and dark (especially in males).
Where is Arroyo Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly along arroyos and stream banks (often in canyon bottoms) on gravelly or rocky ground. |
| Range | southern Arizona, southern New Mexico (north past Santa Fe along Rio Grande valley), and west Texas southward across Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, and Sinaloa, Mexico; probably into Nayarit. |
When is Arroyo Grasshopper active?
Arroyo Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Probably overwinters as eggs, hatching in spring, with adults by July or August and remaining into autumn..