Hesperotettix viridis pratensis

Distinguished from other H. viridis subspecies primarily by geographic range; from the nominate H. viridis viridis by occurring east of the Rocky Mountains in the Great Plains region. Separated from the similar Hypochlora alba by medium green (not pale green) body color, black antennae with pale anterior annuli (not green antennae), and hind femur with black spotting or chevrons (not brown spots). Male subgenital plate with large truncated preapical tubercle. Wings long, reaching or nearly reaching abdomen tip in males; females with wings slightly shorter. Median light line present on occiput and continuing onto pronotal disk.

Grasslands, prairies, and open rangeland east of the Rocky Mountains. Associated with areas supporting composite-family host plants, particularly snakeweeds (Gutierrezia spp.) and related shrubs.

Great Plains and Midwestern North America: recorded from Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, and northwestern United States. Extends into northeastern Mexico.

Feeds primarily on forbs in the family Asteraceae (Compositae), particularly snakeweeds (Gutierrezia spp.), rabbitbrushes (Ericameria/Chrysothamnus), and related shrubs. Has been observed to feed on at least 34 forb species across its range. Consumes trace amounts of grasses, flower petals, pollen, fungi, and arthropods.

One generation annually. Eggs overwinter in soil at approximately 1 inch depth, in tough-walled pods containing approximately 10 tan eggs. Embryos develop to stage 19 before entering diapause. Hatching occurs in mid-June in northern mixedgrass prairie, approximately two to three weeks after Ageneotettix deorum. Nymphal development requires about 55 days and five instars. Adults present from late July through September.

Phytophilous species spending most of active life on host plants. Roosts head-up on stems during night. Basks after sunrise by turning perpendicular to sun's rays while remaining vertically positioned on vegetation. Later morning basking occurs on ground surface in horizontal position. Evasive flights silent, straight, low (6-9 inches), and short (2-6 feet), typically beginning when air temperature 1 inch above ground reaches 68°F. Feeding occurs in short bouts of less than three minutes, attacking leaf edges, stem cortex, and flower buds.

Specialist herbivore on native Asteraceae shrubs. Functions as a biological control agent against invasive or undesirable snakeweed populations, with potential to suppress seedling establishment and reduce survival of young plants. High densities can consume all leaves and substantial stem cortex, contributing to plant mortality.

Considered beneficial for rangeland management due to feeding on low-value or toxic plants that compete with forage species. Some host plants (snakeweeds) are poisonous to livestock, causing illness and abortion; grasshopper feeding may reduce this hazard. Investigated as potential biological control agent for broom snakeweed in New Mexico.

• Hesperotettix viridis viridisNominate subspecies occurring west of the Rocky Mountains; distinguished by geographic range and subtle morphological differences
• Hypochlora albaSimilar green coloration and spurthroated morphology; distinguished by pale green (not medium green) color, green (not black) antennae, and brown (not black) hind femur markings
• Hesperotettix speciosusCongeneric spurthroated grasshopper with overlapping range; distinguished by different host plant associations and color pattern details

• grasshopper
• Acrididae
• Melanoplinae
• spurthroated
• specialist herbivore
• Asteraceae feeder
• biological control
• prairie
• Great Plains

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Snakeweed Grasshopper
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Cudweed Grasshopper
• Species Records and Accounts