Mugwort Grasshopper
Hypochlora alba
This record describes Hypochlora alba (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The white-striped pale gray-green color (occasionally tan or pale brown) of this grasshopper, along with the short wings and small size, make it unmistakable. While very common, it is rarely noticed.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Podismini
- Genus
- Hypochlora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Patches of gray-leaved herbaceous Artemisia in grasslands. Often most common in low places and along roadsides where its food plant tends to thrive best.
Geographic Range
Primarily the Great Plains and into Tall Grass Prairies from the base of the Rockies east as far as Iowa and from southern Canada to northern Texas and New Mexcio.
Seasonal Activity
adults summer into autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Primarily Artemisia ludiviciana , sometimes other related species.
Life History
Overwinters as eggs.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Mugwort is the common name most used for herbaceous Artemisia. Cudweed is another plant entirely (Gnaphalium), and I'm not quite sure how this name got attached to this hopper. Sometimes our western "Mugwort" (A. ludoviciana) is called Cudweed Sagewort, so I suppose that's it? There's the name Wormwood too, but that's usually reserved for Artemisia species that this hopper doesn't seem to eat.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Hypochlora alba. 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 Mugwort Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Mugwort Grasshopper
What is Mugwort Grasshopper?
Mugwort Grasshopper (Hypochlora alba) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Mugwort Grasshopper?
about 2.5 cm (1 inch)
How do you identify Mugwort Grasshopper?
The white-striped pale gray-green color (occasionally tan or pale brown) of this grasshopper, along with the short wings and small size, make it unmistakable.
Where is Mugwort Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Patches of gray-leaved herbaceous Artemisia in grasslands. Often most common in low places and along roadsides where its food plant tends to thrive best. |
| Range | Primarily the Great Plains and into Tall Grass Prairies from the base of the Rockies east as far as Iowa and from southern Canada to northern Texas and New Mexcio. |
What does Mugwort Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Mugwort Grasshopper includes Primarily Artemisia ludiviciana , sometimes other related species..
When is Mugwort Grasshopper active?
Mugwort Grasshopper: seasonal activity - adults summer into autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Mugwort Grasshopper?
Overwinters as eggs.