Coral-winged Grasshopper
Pardalophora apiculata
This record describes Pardalophora apiculata (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Guide TBA--PC. In high elevation and northern regions, wings are shorter (notably on females) and females may be reluctant or even unable to fly. In most regions both genders are powerful fliers and hard to catch. Size is largest on the sandhills of the southern Great Plains.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Hippiscini
- Genus
- Pardalophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Forest clearings with grasses and sand prairies. Nearly always found where the soil is very sandy.
Geographic Range
across southern Canada and south to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, North Carolina
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grasses
Life History
Overwinters as nymphs that hatched the previous summer/autumn. Adults mature in early spring, with the actual date depending on elevation and/or latitude (mostly April or May, sometimes March; some places as late as June). Adults in most regions are gone before July, but in north and in mountains may survive into July. Rarely seen after June or July.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Pardalophora apiculata. 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 Coral-winged Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Tom Bentley , David Ferguson , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Coral-winged Grasshopper
What is Coral-winged Grasshopper?
Coral-winged Grasshopper (Pardalophora apiculata) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Coral-winged Grasshopper?
30-60 mm
Where is Coral-winged Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forest clearings with grasses and sand prairies. Nearly always found where the soil is very sandy. |
| Range | across southern Canada and south to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, North Carolina |
What does Coral-winged Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Coral-winged Grasshopper includes Grasses.
What is the life cycle of a Coral-winged Grasshopper?
Overwinters as nymphs that hatched the previous summer/autumn. Adults mature in early spring, with the actual date depending on elevation and/or latitude (mostly April or May, sometimes March; some places as late as June). Adults in most regions are gone before July, but in north and in mountains may survive into July. Rarely seen after June or July.