Speckle-winged Rangeland Grasshopper

Arphia conspersa

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Acrididae
Subfamily: Oedipodinae
Tribe: Arphiini
Genus: Arphia
Species: conspersa

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Arphia conspersa: //ˈɑːr.fi.ə kənˈspɜːr.sə//

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Images

Arphia conspersa by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Arphia conspersa, or the speckle-winged rangeland grasshopper, is a species of band-winged grasshopper found in North America, characterized by its speckled wings and specific habitats in rangelands. It has a distinct life cycle, overwintering as nymphs and emerging in early spring.

Physical Characteristics

Males measure 20-25 mm and females 24-37 mm. The coloration is variable, usually in shades of gray or brown, often speckled dark with a pale yellowish underside. The hind wings can vary in color from yellow to red or pink, with a transparent section at the apex and a narrow dark cross band.

Identification Tips

Distinguished from other Arphia species by its overwintering as nymphs and smaller size. Features such as the junction of fastigium with frontal costa, thorax shape, and width of dark spur on hind wing help in identification.

Habitat

Found in rangelands across a wide range of habitats from grasslands to semi-arid regions.

Distribution

From westernmost Ontario and Wisconsin, south to east central Texas and on to the trans-volcanic belt of Mexico; west to the Pacific Coast near the Arctic of Canada and Alaska, excluding Baja California and much of California.

Diet

Herbivorous, feeding on a variety of grasses and other plants.

Life Cycle

Overwinters as nearly mature nymphs. Adults typically emerge in late winter or early spring, with most being abundant in spring. Eggs are laid in the ground and hatch in summer.

Reproduction

Eggs are laid in the ground; reproduction occurs in the spring after adults emerge.

Ecosystem Role

Contributes to the grassland ecosystem as herbivores, impacting plant growth and serving as prey for various predators.