Pardalophora phoenicoptera

(Burmeister, 1838)

orange-winged grasshopper

Pardalophora phoenicoptera, commonly known as the orange-winged , is a of -winged grasshopper in the . It is distinguished from related by having only one notch in the pronotal crest. Unusual among most grasshoppers, this species overwinters as a rather than as an , resulting in well-developed nymphs at the beginning of spring and appearing earlier in the season than many other grasshoppers. The species exhibits remarkable intraspecific variation in coloration, with individuals ranging from green to , providing effective in their preferred .

Pardalophora phoenicoptera by (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

XIMG 9590 (9736980625) by David Hill. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Orange-winged grasshopper (42487831452) by Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pardalophora phoenicoptera: /ˌpɑr.dəˈloʊ.fə.rə ˌfɪː.nɪˈkɒp.tə.rə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from the similar Xanthippus by having only one notch in the pronotal crest (Xanthippus has two). display highly variable coloration including green, , and reddish forms, with orange or visible in . are exceptionally cryptic, blending nearly invisibly with their surroundings until they move. The combination of early-season adult activity and nymphal stage separates this temporally from many co-occurring .

Images

Habitat

Rocky or gravelly hilltops, including cedar glades in the Ozark region; gravelly or stable sandy slopes in sunny openings. Also found in disturbed areas such as sand flats composed of crushed limestone tailings from former mining operations.

Distribution

North America. Documented from Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas. Occurs in the Ozark Highlands and Great Plains regions, with eastern extent in the Mississippi River valley area.

Seasonality

appear earlier in the season than most other due to as . Nymphs observed in late April in Missouri, with adults active spring through summer.

Life Cycle

Overwinters as rather than , an unusual trait among . This leads to well-developed nymphs at the beginning of spring. Nymphs progress through approximately 5 (possibly 6 in some ). development in nymphs can indicate instar stage—4th instar nymphs observed in late April with wing pads suggesting incomplete development. emerge earlier in the season than many grasshopper .

Behavior

are exceptionally cryptic, remaining nearly invisible until movement reveals their presence. display brightly colored (orange or ) in , contrasting with their cryptic and body coloration when at rest.

Similar Taxa

XanthippusShares similar body plan and -winged , but distinguished by having two notches in the pronotal crest versus one in Pardalophora.
Trimerotropis saxatilisBoth are green oedipodine with exceptional ; however, T. saxatilis is restricted to lichen-encrusted rock outcrops and exhibits more consistent green coloration with distinctive speckled patterning.