Chortophaga

Adults of Chortophaga species can be distinguished from similar band-winged grasshoppers by the combination of: hindwing basal area pale greenish-yellow with a faded, incomplete dark band; pronotal disk with acute posterior angle and strong, equally elevated median carina weakly cut once in front of middle; and hind tibiae bluish-gray or red with a tan annulus near the proximal end. Females are typically larger than males and more often green, while males are more frequently brown. Nymphs have ensiform (sword-shaped) antennae and tectate (steep roof-like) pronotal disk with acute posterior angle, distinguishing them from similar genera like Encoptolophus which has clavate antennae and obtuse posterior pronotal angle.

Species in this genus inhabit grasslands dominated by midgrasses, with a strong preference for moist conditions. In the eastern United States, they occupy grass meadows and slopes. In western regions, distribution is patchy and restricted to small areas receiving additional moisture through overflow, subirrigation, or proximity to water bodies. Specific documented habitats include patches of western wheatgrass in swales, around ponds, along streams, and stands of smooth brome under irrigation or adjacent to irrigated crops and lawns. Nymphal habitats are typically moist swales and marsh margins where grasses grow luxuriantly.

The genus Chortophaga occurs in North America with extensions into Central America and the Caribbean. Documented distribution records include: northeastern United States, Alabama, California, Costa Rica, and Cuba. C. viridifasciata ranges widely across North America and southward into Central America. C. cubensis is restricted to Cuba. C. australior occurs in the southern United States. C. mendocino is known from Mendocino County, California.

In northern parts of the range, species have one generation annually and overwinter as late nymphs. Eggs hatch in mid-July in eastern Wyoming, with nymphs developing slowly and entering dormancy by October, then resuming activity in March and reaching adulthood in early April. In southern states where multiple generations occur, hatching takes place earlier and at several times through the growing season; in Texas, nymphs have been found throughout the year.

Herbivorous, feeding primarily on grasses with preference for succulent plants. Documented host plants include Kentucky bluegrass, foxtail barley, western wheatgrass, quackgrass, little bluestem, junegrass, needleleaf sedge, Penn sedge, orchardgrass, poverty oatgrass, Johnsongrass, and Bromus catharticus. Has been observed feeding on the forb annual sowthistle. Also feeds on ground litter, particularly cut green leaves.

Univoltine in northern range, bi- or multivoltine in southern range. Overwinters as late instar nymph (fourth or fifth instar) in northern populations. Eggs are deposited in pods approximately 1.125–1.25 inches long, containing about 25 eggs in the bottom half inch with hardened froth above; eggs are light tan and 4–4.5 mm long. Females oviposit in damp sand or bare sandy loam soil to a depth of about 1.25 inches. Nymphs pass through five instars. Copulation lasts 30–60 minutes.

Strong flier with wings extending 2–8 mm beyond abdomen. Males perform crepitating flights to attract females, lasting 1–2 seconds at heights up to 3 feet. Both sexes crepitate during flight, though may fly silently when startled. Evasive flights cover 10–30 feet for males, twice that for females, at heights of 6–24 inches. Adults regularly disperse from nymphal habitats to upland areas. Males exhibit auditory communication that spaces individuals, potentially limiting population density. Courtship involves femur-tipping and other movements; females approach crepitating males with responding crepitation. Adults bask horizontally on ground or vertically on grass culms in morning, then feed and move during midday.

Primary consumer in grassland ecosystems. Despite abundance in eastern United States, populations do not reach outbreak densities (25+ adults per square yard), possibly due to male spacing behavior. In western states, limited to small moist habitats with densities less than one per square yard. Minimal economic damage to rangeland due to low numbers and patchy distribution.

Minor agricultural pest in eastern United States where abundant; may cause some damage to pastures and hayfields. Records from red clover and tobacco fields suggest potential as minor crop pest, though may actually feed on weedy grasses invading these crops. Damage to rangeland forage minimal and economically insignificant in western states. Used extensively in physiological and cytogenetic research due to large neuroblasts suitable for cell biology studies.

• EncoptolophusNymphs appear similar, especially early instars, but differ in antenna shape (clavate in Encoptolophus, ensiform in Chortophaga), number of ridges on fore- and midleg femora and tibiae (four distinct with black lines in Encoptolophus, two distinct with weak third ridge and no black lines in Chortophaga), hind femur coloration in first instar (pink distally in Encoptolophus, entirely green in Chortophaga), and pronotal disk shape (moderately sloping with obtuse posterior angle in Encoptolophus, tectate with acute posterior angle in Chortophaga).

• grasshopper
• band-winged grasshopper
• green-striped grasshopper
• Acrididae
• Oedipodinae
• North America
• grassland
• moist habitat
• research model

• BugGuide
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• GBIF taxonomy match
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• Catalogue of Life
• Comparison
• Greenstriped Grasshopper
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• An informational analysis of the inter-male behaviour of the grasshopper chortophaga viridifasciata
• Formaldehyde‐induced acentric chromosome fragments and chromosome stickiness in Chortophaga neuroblasts
• Changes in the Distribution of Nitrogen during Starvation in the Grasshopper, Chortophaga viridifasciata De Geer
• Studies on cytokinesis in neuroblasts of the grasshopper, Chortophaga viridifasciata (De Geer) I. Formation and behavior of the mitotic apparatus
• Visual and acoustical social displays by the grasshopper Chortophaga viridifasciata (Acrididae: Oedipodinae)
• Chromosome fragments and other abnormalities induced by mitomycin C in the neuroblast of chortophaga viridifasciata
• THE BEHAVIOR OF ISOLATED HEARTS OF THE GRASSHOPPER, CHORTOPHAGA VIRIDIFASCIATA, AND THE MOTH, SAMIA WALKERI, IN SOLUTIONS WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM, CALCIUM, AND MAGNESIUM