Taeniopoda eques

Distinguished from all other grasshoppers in its range by its combination of large size, aposematic black-and-yellow coloration, and red hindwings. Most similar to Romalea microptera (eastern lubber grasshopper), with which it can interbreed in captivity; however, their natural ranges do not overlap. R. microptera occupies eastern Texas and the southeastern United States, while T. eques occurs in western Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Where ranges approach in southern Texas, R. microptera has an eastern distribution and T. eques a western distribution. Dark adults and nymphs of R. microptera are frequently confused with T. eques but can be separated by geographic origin. No other western grasshopper approaches T. eques in size or conspicuous aposematic coloration.

Arid and semi-arid brush and grassland, including Chihuahuan Desert scrub. Also occurs in oak savanna and woodland at higher elevations. Found among shrubs including Acacia, Mimosa, Ephedra, and Yucca. Requires summer precipitation for development. Occurs at elevations up to >2,150 m above sea level.

Endemic to the United States and Mexico. In the United States: southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and southwestern Texas (Big Bend region). In Mexico: from the U.S. border south through the Mexican Plateau, Sierra Madre Oriental, Transvolcanic Belt, and Pacific coastal region to Guerrero. Reports from Central America south of Mexico involve misidentifications of other Taeniopoda species.

Adults active from approximately July through November. Eggs hatch synchronously with onset of summer rainy season in July. Nymphs develop rapidly, reaching adulthood in about 40 days. Mating begins ~12 days after maturity. Females oviposit from approximately October until killed by winter freeze in November. Univoltine: one generation per year.

Polyphagous herbivore feeding primarily on foliage, flowers, and seed pods of low-growing summer desert annuals. Does not feed on the shrubs it roosts upon (Acacia, Mimosa). Forages only during daylight hours. Consumes free-standing water from raindrops. Opportunistic carnivore: scavenges insect and vertebrate carrion, detects odors to locate mammal and insect carcasses. Also consumes spider silk and feces. Females engage more frequently in necrophagy than males, likely due to greater protein requirements for egg production. Cannibalism observed on molting or incapacitated conspecifics.

Univoltine with egg diapause. Females deposit egg pods (~50 eggs each) 4–8 cm deep in soil at base of shrubs or large rocks, accompanied by a liquid that dries to form a hard protective case. Eggs laid in October in the United States. Number of egg pods depends on rate of development and time before frost. Eggs overwinter, hatching synchronously with summer rains in July. Nymphs undergo five instars over ~40 days. Newly hatched nymphs are reddish, turning black within two hours. Recently molted individuals are brown, darkening within two hours at warm temperatures. Molting requires temperatures between 25–36°C; below 25°C molting is not initiated, above 36°C individuals may become trapped in exoskeletons. Parthenogenesis occasionally occurs in unmated females, producing female offspring.

Diurnal forager that roosts conspicuously on shrub tops at night to avoid nocturnal ground predators. Descends to desert floor at dawn to feed. Behavioral thermoregulation includes flanking (orienting body perpendicular to sunlight with sun-side hindleg lowered, shade-side hindleg raised, and abdomen lowered to reduce wing shading) and seeking shade in bush centers at midday to prevent overheating. Multi-sensory defense system: when attacked, sprays odorous secretion (coffee-vanilla scent) from metathoracic spiracles while producing hissing noise, creating noxious deterrent cloud. Displays bright red hindwings, waves orange antennae, and raises spiny hindlegs in threatening posture. Gregarious in first instar: pod mates aggregate, move and feed together for a few days before dispersing. Adults solitary but attracted to largest bush at dusk, creating appearance of clumping. Males stridulate by expanding hindwings against closed forewings, flashing red hindwings. Males promiscuous and sexually aggressive, mounting females, males, and even other grasshopper and lizard species. Females react violently to mounting attempts (jumping, kicking, running, rotating). Post-copulation, females become docile and carry males on their backs. Copulation may last up to 24 hours with continuous spermatophore transfer. Female releases sex pheromone eliciting male attraction over short distance; pheromone is component of defensive secretion. Males detect pheromone via antennae.

Herbivore consuming desert annual vegetation; nutrient cycling through consumption of carrion and feces. Chemically defended aposematic species that serves as model for predator learning. Large size and flightlessness may reduce competition with smaller, more mobile grasshoppers for resources. Eggs and molting nymphs vulnerable to predatory ants; adults largely protected from vertebrate predation by chemical defenses. Vectors for nutrients from carrion into detrital food web.

Occasional pest in young citrus orchards and ornamental plantings near natural habitats. Defensive secretions can cause vomiting in predators but are not dangerous to humans. Large numbers of dead individuals on roads can create hazardous conditions. Subject of scientific study for chemical defense, thermoregulation, and behavioral ecology. Sometimes used in educational dissections.

• Romalea micropteraEastern lubber grasshopper; closely related (can interbreed in captivity), similar large size and aposematic coloration, but natural ranges do not overlap. R. microptera occurs in eastern Texas and southeastern U.S.; T. eques in western Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. R. microptera has more variable color patterns including more extensive yellow and orange in eastern populations.
• Brachystola magnaPlains lubber; also large, flightless, and aposematic, but occurs in Great Plains grasslands rather than Chihuahuan Desert. Wingless in all life stages, more variable in color (green, brown, pinkish, bluish), and has two-year life cycle with eggs passing through two winters.
• Dactylotum bicolorRainbow grasshopper; smaller (24–32 mm), aposematically colored with red, white, and blue pattern, also flightless and occurs in Great Plains, but distinguished by much smaller size and striking multicolored pattern rather than black-and-yellow.

Occasionally reported from Central American countries south of Mexico, but these records involve misidentifications of other Taeniopoda species. Some sources list Geotrupes miarophagus as a synonym of G. splendidus, but this subspecific distinction remains debated.

• grasshopper
• lubber
• Romaleidae
• Chihuahuan Desert
• aposematic
• chemical defense
• thermoregulation
• flightless
• univoltine
• parthenogenesis

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Field Guide Selected References
• The Eastern Lubber Grasshopper: Hard to Miss, But Only an Occasional Pest
• Bug Eric: Summer 'hoppers Part II
• Papua New Guinea | Blog
• You know what bugs me about dung beetles?… | Beetles In The Bush
• Behold the Hippoboscidae: Bizarre Biting Flies that Give Live Birth!
• LABORATORY BIOLOGY OF TAENIOPODA EQUES (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)
• Biology of Taeniopoda eques (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Southeastern Arizona
• Observations on the behaviour of the grasshopper Taeniopoda eques (Burmeister), Orthoptera, Acrididae
• Grasshopper sexual pheromone: a component of the defensive secretion in Taeniopoda eques