Clip-wing Grasshopper
Metaleptea brevicornis
This record describes Metaleptea brevicornis (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Slant-faced, angled forewing tips, sword-like antennae, short rear-pointing spines on hind knees are distinctive: Color variable brown and green. Hindwing has no pigment. Flies, seldom leaps. This species is nearly unique among North American Slant-faced Grasshoppers in that it crepitates, producing a sharp clicking sound when it flies. In addition, at least two species of Acrolophitus are known to click faintly when they fly ( A. maculipennis & A. pulchellus ).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Metaleptea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wetlands with sedges, grasses, sometimes occurs in salt marshes.
Geographic Range
Eastern North America, mostly east of Mississippi. In south, range extends west to Texas, from there, south into neotropics, temperate South America.
Seasonal Activity
Mid-summer to fall. July-October (eastern North America). August-September (Michigan).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grasses, sedges.
Life History
Both males and females come to lights at night. This has been noted in late July and early August in the lower Piedmont of North Carolina. Presumably this is a period of dispersal.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: (Former genus name is from troxalis , a Latin/Greek word for grasshopper, related to Greek trox , gnaw, see A Dictionary of Botanical Etymology ).
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Metaleptea brevicornis. 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 Clip-wing Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Mike Boone , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Clip-wing Grasshopper
What is Clip-wing Grasshopper?
Clip-wing Grasshopper (Metaleptea brevicornis) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Clip-wing Grasshopper?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | 25-38 mm |
| Females | 36-53 mm (forehead to tip of folded wings) |
How do you identify Clip-wing Grasshopper?
Slant-faced, angled forewing tips, sword-like antennae, short rear-pointing spines on hind knees are distinctive: Color variable brown and green. Hindwing has no pigment. Flies, seldom leaps.
Where is Clip-wing Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Wetlands with sedges, grasses, sometimes occurs in salt marshes. |
| Range | Eastern North America, mostly east of Mississippi. In south, range extends west to Texas, from there, south into neotropics, temperate South America. |
What does Clip-wing Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Clip-wing Grasshopper includes Grasses, sedges..
When is Clip-wing Grasshopper active?
Clip-wing Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Mid-summer to fall. July-October (eastern North America). August-September (Michigan)..
What is the life cycle of a Clip-wing Grasshopper?
Both males and females come to lights at night. This has been noted in late July and early August in the lower Piedmont of North Carolina. Presumably this is a period of dispersal.