Caerulean-winged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pseudofasciata
This record describes Trimerotropis pseudofasciata (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Although wings are usually blue, this species is very close to the yellow-winged species of the T. pallidipennis group, and has very similar appearance and behavior to those species. It produces a rapid, relatively high-pitched, loud, and interrupted buzzing sound in flight. The flight is usually low, but fast and often erratic, and the insects are often very difficult to approach and to follow. Flights are usually short, but they can fly great distances. Often attracted in large numbers, on warm evenings, to bright lights.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Trimerotropini
- Genus
- Trimerotropis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A wide variety of open dry habitats, but especially in dry barren flats with bare smooth ground exposed, often where the ground is alkaline or salty; can also be abundant in open gravelly areas, on hillsides, dune fields, vacant lots, and even parking lots.
Geographic Range
Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, and valleys of California from eastern Washington and Idaho to northern Baja California and southwestern Utah. Records from eastern Utah and western Colorado are probably in error.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Overwinter as eggs in soil. Adults appear late spring and usually gone by September or October.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Trimerotropis pseudofasciata. 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 Caerulean-winged Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz
Frequently Asked Questions About Caerulean-winged Grasshopper
What is Caerulean-winged Grasshopper?
Caerulean-winged Grasshopper (Trimerotropis pseudofasciata) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Caerulean-winged Grasshopper?
males 24 - 32 mm females 30 - 42 mm
Where is Caerulean-winged Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | A wide variety of open dry habitats, but especially in dry barren flats with bare smooth ground exposed, often where the ground is alkaline or salty; can also be abundant in open gravelly areas, on hillsides, dune fields, vacant lots, and even parking lots. |
| Range | Great Basin, Columbia Plateau, and valleys of California from eastern Washington and Idaho to northern Baja California and southwestern Utah. Records from eastern Utah and western Colorado are probably in error. |
What is the life cycle of a Caerulean-winged Grasshopper?
Overwinter as eggs in soil. Adults appear late spring and usually gone by September or October.