Pale Toothpick Grasshopper
Paropomala pallida
This record describes Paropomala pallida (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Much as in P. virgata except hind femora shorter and not reaching tips of abdomen and often not wings. Wings varied in length, but usually at least reaching past tips of hind femora, or nearly so. As in P. virgata , dark stripe is narrower than eye, extending back from upper part of eye, usually with white or near white area surrounding roughly lower half of eye. P. wyomingensis , usually has short wings only an uncommon long-winged variant occurs. Dark stripe back from eye is wider than eye, with white coloring below only touching bottom of eye. The subgenital plate is longer, very roughly about as long as the combined length of two average abdominal segments.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Paropomala
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly desert and grassland regions, where it is found associated mostly with clumps of bunch grass in sandy areas.
Geographic Range
Widespread in western U.S. and northwestern Mexico. Mostly west from Rockies, but east across all of New Mexico and much of Colorado into western Texas and southeastern Colorado.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: probably grasses
Life History
Eggs are laid in soil and overwinter. Adults mature in late spring or early summer and often live until first frosts in autumn.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Paropomala pallida. 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 Pale Toothpick Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tom Bentley; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Pale Toothpick Grasshopper
What is Pale Toothpick Grasshopper?
Pale Toothpick Grasshopper (Paropomala pallida) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Pale Toothpick Grasshopper?
Much as in P. virgata except hind femora shorter and not reaching tips of abdomen and often not wings. Wings varied in length, but usually at least reaching past tips of hind femora, or nearly so. As in P. virgata , dark stripe is narrower than eye, extending back from upper part of eye, usually with white or near white area surrounding roughly lower half of eye. P. wyomingensis , usually has short wings only an uncommon long-winged variant occurs. Dark stripe back from eye is wider than eye, with white coloring below only touching bottom of eye. The subgenital plate is longer, very roughly about as long as the combined length of two average abdominal segments.
Where is Pale Toothpick Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly desert and grassland regions, where it is found associated mostly with clumps of bunch grass in sandy areas. |
| Range | Widespread in western U.S. and northwestern Mexico. Mostly west from Rockies, but east across all of New Mexico and much of Colorado into western Texas and southeastern Colorado. |
What does Pale Toothpick Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Pale Toothpick Grasshopper includes probably grasses.
What is the life cycle of a Pale Toothpick Grasshopper?
Eggs are laid in soil and overwinter. Adults mature in late spring or early summer and often live until first frosts in autumn.