Spharagemon

Species in Spharagemon are distinguished from related band-winged grasshoppers by the combination of an elevated median carina on the pronotum—often deeply incised or notched—and distinctive hindwing patterns typically featuring a colored disk (often yellow or orange) with dark transverse bands. The tegmina are usually speckled or mottled, and some species show coalesced spots forming faint bands. Hind tibiae are frequently brightly colored (orange to red). Nymphs share the elevated pronotal carina and spotted coloration, with instar-specific details of femoral banding and tibial coloration useful for identification.

Sandy soils with sparse vegetation, including sand prairies, sand dunes, sand blowouts, and sandy banks of lakes and streams. Some species occupy ruderal sandy loam sites such as roadsides and field edges.

North America, with records from Alabama, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, and Colorado; individual species range from the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions to the Great Lakes and eastern North America.

Members of this genus exhibit geophilous behavior, spending active and quiescent periods on the ground surface. Adults and nymphs typically rest horizontally on ground litter or bare soil, bask by orienting perpendicular to sunlight, and feed while positioned on the ground. Some species are strong fliers with wings extending beyond the abdomen, capable of flights of 50–100 feet when flushed in favorable conditions. Males produce stridulatory sounds during courtship approaches.

Primary consumers in sand prairie and sandy soil ecosystems; contribute to nutrient cycling and serve as prey for birds and other vertebrates. Population densities are typically low but can increase in disturbed sandy habitats.

Generally minor agricultural pests. The mottled sand grasshopper (S. collare) occasionally reaches damaging densities in disturbed sandy areas, with potential to injure wheat and newly seeded crested wheatgrass. Most species cause only minor forage damage due to naturally low densities.

• TrimerotropisAlso band-winged grasshoppers with patterned hindwings, but Spharagemon species typically have a more elevated and deeply notched pronotal median carina.
• MetatorShares sandy habitat preferences and band-winged morphology; S. collare specifically noted to replace Metator pardalinus in loam to clay soils while S. equale occupies similar habitats.
• Spharagemon equaleClosely related and syntopic with S. collare; distinguished by habitat preference for loam to clay soils versus strict sandy soil association of S. collare.

• grasshopper
• band-winged
• sand prairie
• Oedipodinae
• North America
• geophilous
• Acrididae
• Trimerotropini
• sandy soil
• rangeland

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Species Records and Accounts
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Mottled Sand Grasshopper