Shortgrass-prairie
Guides
Cicindela nebraskana
Prairie Long-lipped Tiger Beetle, Black-bellied Tiger Beetle
Cicindela nebraskana is a small tiger beetle endemic to the Great Plains of western North America. The species is distinguished by its elongated labrum (upper lip), which gives adults a notably long-faced appearance compared to congeners. Males possess bright white labrum and mandibles, while females show partially or completely dark mouthparts. The species is considered rare and has been documented at very few localities despite its relatively broad geographic range.
Dissosteira longipennis
High Plains Locust, High Plains Grasshopper
Dissosteira longipennis is a large band-winged grasshopper native to the shortgrass prairie of western North America. During the 1930s, it formed massive swarms causing extensive crop and rangeland damage, but has not swarmed since and is now considered very rare. It is one of two North American locust species, the other being the extinct Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus). The species persists in small, localized populations in favorable habitats.
Flexamia huroni
Huron River Leafhopper
Flexamia huroni is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Bess & Hamilton in 1999. It belongs to the genus Flexamia, a group of leafhoppers known for their specialized host plant associations with grasses. The species is named after the Huron River in Michigan, where it was first collected. Like other members of the genus, it likely exhibits strong ecological dependence on specific grass host plants.
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lobal-biodiversity-information-facilityesbiodiversity-image-portalspanish-collectionstype-specimenlichenantarcticabernensisliyellowstoneHeliaula
Rufous Grasshopper
Heliaula is a monotypic genus of slant-faced grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, established by Caudell in 1916. The sole described species, Heliaula rufa (Scudder), occurs in shortgrass prairie habitats of the western United States. The genus is classified in the subfamily Gomphocerinae and tribe Cibolacrini.
Mestobregma
Mestobregma is a genus of band-winged grasshoppers in the family Acrididae, established by Scudder in 1876. The genus contains at least three described species distributed in western North America, including the Platte range grasshopper (M. plattei), narrow-fronted grasshopper (M. impexum), and dirt-colored grasshopper (M. terricolor). These grasshoppers are associated with shortgrass prairie habitats and are not considered economically significant pests.
Mestobregma plattei
Platte Range Grasshopper
Mestobregma plattei, known as the Platte Range Grasshopper, is a band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is uncommon in eastern Wyoming and occurs in limited areas throughout the state. The species inhabits shortgrass prairie with patches of barren rocky soil. Adults are present in late summer, with collections documented in July and August. Its economic impact is minimal.
Neotibicen canicularis
dog-day cicada, dog-day harvestfly, heatbug, Northern Dog-day Cicada
Neotibicen canicularis is an annual cicada species found across much of North America, commonly known as the dog-day cicada or dog-day harvestfly. Unlike periodical cicadas that emerge in synchronized broods every 13 or 17 years, this species appears every summer, though individuals require several years to develop underground. Adults are active during the hot midsummer period traditionally called the "dog days." The species has been documented as a host for multiple flesh fly parasitoids in the family Sarcophagidae, including several first-record associations.
cicadaannual-cicadadog-day-cicadaHemipteraCicadidaeNeotibicenNorth-Americaparasitoid-hostflesh-flySarcophagidaesummersongtymbalnocturnal-emergencenymphroot-feedercarrionEmblemasomaHelicobiaSarcophagaOntarioQuébecOklahomaprairiewoodlandentomologyinsect-photographyMr.-JulyESA-calendarKeith-KennedyTed-MacRaeCatherine-DanaJohn-CooleyGene-Kritskycicada-killerSphecius-speciosusperiodical-cicada-contrastclimate-change-indicatorsoil-temperature-emergencebrood-XIIIbrood-XIXMagicicadaMegatibicenNeotibicen-auriferusNeotibicen-pruinosusNeotibicen-superbusMegatibicen-dorsatusMegatibicen-tremulusMegatibicen-dealbatuscicada-mappingCicada-Safaricitizen-scienceiNaturalistGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBI-Taxonomylate-summerAugustJulyMontréalWoodward-CountyCimarron-CountyMajor-CountyBeaver-CountyAlabaster-Caverns-State-ParkGloss-Mountain-State-ParkBeaver-Dunes-ParkBlack-Mesa-State-Parkshortgrass-prairiehackberrybumeliajunipercanyon-woodlandmesquite-chaparralsand-duneHelianthus-annuusHelianthus-petiolarisProsopis-glandulosaPopulus-deltoidesRhus-aromaticaAsclepias-engelmanniiAsclepias-latifoliaSideroxylon-lanuginosumEuphorbia-marginatajug-trapLindgren-funnelultraviolet-lightmercury-vapor-lightacoustic-communicationpredator-avoidancecamouflagegreen-and-black-colorationcicada-killer-waspparasitoidEmblemasoma-albicomaEmblemasoma-erroHelicobia-rapaxSarcophaga-sarracenioidesSarcophaga-utilisfirst-recordnew-host-associationnew-provincial-recordnutrient-cyclingcarrion-resourcefood-webpredator-preyaerationflaggingtree-pruningclimate-changeearlier-emergencesoil-temperature64-Fahrenheitstraggler-cicadabrood-overlapIllinoisMidwestGreat-Plainseastern-forestannual-emergencesynchronous-emergencemass-emergencebrood-Xbrood-IIbrood-XIVbrood-XXIII17-year-cicada13-year-cicadaMagicicada-septendecimMagicicada-cassiniMagicicada-septendeculaOkanagana-rimosaSay's-cicadaTibicenAbrictaAmphipsaltaAruntaAustrotomaAyuthiaBaeturiaBalintaBasaBrevisanaCacamaCalyriaCicadatraCicadettaCicadivettaCosmopsaltriaCyclochilaDiceroproctaDundubiaEuterpnosiaFidicinaFidicinoidesGaeanaHenicopsaltriaHerreraHuechysHyalessaHylocicadaJassopsaltriaKikihiaLembejaLemurianaMacrotristriaMaoricicadaMoganniaMudaMyerscicadaNeopsaltriaNotopsaltaOkanaganaOkanagodesOligoglenaOnoralnaOudeboschiaPacarinaPahariaPalapsaltaPauropsaltaPictilaPlatypleuraPomponiaPsaltodaPterapsaltaQuesadaQuintiliaRaiateanaSaticulaSemiaSonotympanaSoudaniellaTaipingaTannaTerpnosiaTettigadesTettigettaThophaTibicinaTosenaTryellaUradolichosVenustriaXeropsaltaYezoterpnosiaZammaraZaphsaParopomala wyomingensis
Wyoming toothpick grasshopper
Paropomala wyomingensis, the Wyoming toothpick grasshopper, is a slant-faced grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is common in the shortgrass prairies of eastern Wyoming, with populations diminishing in mixedgrass prairie and desert regions. Adults are active from mid-July to early September. The species feeds on multiple grass species and has been recorded from the western United States south to Central America.
Prionapteryx indentella
buffalograss webworm
Prionapteryx indentella is a crambid moth commonly known as the buffalograss webworm. The species is endemic to the Great Plains of North America, with confirmed records from Kansas and Texas. It completes one generation annually, with adult activity occurring from August through September. The larval stage is a specialist feeder on Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss), the dominant native grass of shortgrass prairie ecosystems.
Prionus fissicornis
Prionus fissicornis is a long-horned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, distinguished as the sole member of the monotypic subgenus Prionus (Antennalia). It inhabits shortgrass prairie habitats in the Great Plains of North America. Adults are highly attracted to prionic acid lures, and emergence appears to be triggered by rainfall events. Unlike some congeners, adults do not appear to construct or occupy burrows.
Prionus integer
Prionus integer is a longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae) in the subgenus Homaesthesis, endemic to the United States and found in shortgrass prairie habitats of the Great Plains. Adults exhibit unusual burrowing behavior, with both sexes creating shallow soil burrows. Males are strongly attracted to prionic acid pheromone lures, and adult activity appears triggered by rainfall events. The species was described by LeConte in 1851 and remains poorly known compared to economically important congeners.
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.