Four-spotted Grasshopper
Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum
This record describes Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Can become economically important in high densities
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Phlibostroma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Short-grass prairies from Canada to Mexico
Seasonal Activity
Adults from July to September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Grasses
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum. 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 Four-spotted Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tom Bentley; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-spotted Grasshopper
What is Four-spotted Grasshopper?
Four-spotted Grasshopper (Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Four-spotted Grasshopper found?
Range: Short-grass prairies from Canada to Mexico
What does Four-spotted Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Four-spotted Grasshopper includes Grasses.
When is Four-spotted Grasshopper active?
Four-spotted Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Adults from July to September.