Osceola grasshopper
Hesperotettix osceola
This record describes Hesperotettix osceola (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Green with white stripes and black & reddish markings. Hind tibiae blue. Wings shorter than pronotum. Very similar to H. viridis subspecies pratensis & brevipennis which occur further north and have longer wings.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Podismini
- Genus
- Hesperotettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Peninsular Florida
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The question of whether this should be treated as a subspecies of H. viridis has been debated, and needs further attention.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Hesperotettix osceola. 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 Osceola grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Osceola grasshopper
What is Osceola grasshopper?
Osceola grasshopper (Hesperotettix osceola) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Osceola grasshopper?
Green with white stripes and black & reddish markings. Hind tibiae blue. Wings shorter than pronotum. Very similar to H. viridis subspecies pratensis & brevipennis which occur further north and have longer wings.
Where is Osceola grasshopper found?
Range: Peninsular Florida