Southern Sedge Grasshopper
Stethophyma celata
This record describes Stethophyma celata (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Spines on hind tibia yellow, tipped with black; side of forewings without white streak; lateral carinae cut by one sulcus
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Parapleurini
- Genus
- Stethophyma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Rank tall grass and sedges in low-lying wet (mostly riparian) areas. Several known habitats in the Great Plains have been altered by development, livestock use, mowing, or chemical usage in recent years, to the point where the species seems to be extirpated from those locations now.
Geographic Range
Northern Great Plains and Midwest in U.S. from ne. Colorado to sw. South Dakota, eastward to ne. Minnesota, Wisconsin and eastern Illinois. Also on the coastal plain in North and South Carolina and recorded from Connecticut. Generally in widely scattered locations, and rarely abundant.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are recorded from mid June to early September, with most records for July and August.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Before 1979, specimens of this species were incorrectly referred to as Stethophyma platyptera ; however, that name was shown to be a synonym of S. gracile .
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Stethophyma celata. 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 Southern Sedge Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Sedge Grasshopper
What is Southern Sedge Grasshopper?
Southern Sedge Grasshopper (Stethophyma celata) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Southern Sedge Grasshopper?
Spines on hind tibia yellow, tipped with black; side of forewings without white streak; lateral carinae cut by one sulcus
Where is Southern Sedge Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Rank tall grass and sedges in low-lying wet (mostly riparian) areas. Several known habitats in the Great Plains have been altered by development, livestock use, mowing, or chemical usage in recent years, to the point where the species seems to be extirpated from those locations now. |
| Range | Northern Great Plains and Midwest in U.S. from ne. Colorado to sw. South Dakota, eastward to ne. Minnesota, Wisconsin and eastern Illinois. Also on the coastal plain in North and South Carolina and recorded from Connecticut. Generally in widely scattered locations, and rarely abundant. |
When is Southern Sedge Grasshopper active?
Southern Sedge Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Adults are recorded from mid June to early September, with most records for July and August..