Photoperiod-dependent-reproduction
Guides
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.