Late-season-phenology
Guides
Agrilus concinnus
hibiscus jewel beetle
Agrilus concinnus is a large, vividly colored jewel beetle in the family Buprestidae. It was formerly considered one of the rarest Agrilus species in North America until researchers determined it to be a later-season species associated with living Hibiscus plants. Adults are active from late July through early August, peaking when host plants are in bloom. The species has been documented in Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas.
Trachyrhachys aspera
Finned Grasshopper
Trachyrhachys aspera, commonly known as the finned grasshopper, is a medium-sized band-winged grasshopper native to the shortgrass prairie ecosystems of western North America. This species exhibits strong habitat fidelity to blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) dominated grasslands, where it functions as a subdominant member of grasshopper assemblages. The species is notable for its late-season phenology, hatching approximately four weeks after the sympatric Trachyrhachys kiowa, and for its highly specialized diet consisting almost exclusively of blue grama grass. Despite its potential economic impact as a forage competitor with livestock, populations have remained chronically low with no documented outbreak events.