Welcome to Catnapin's
Insect Gallery
Grasshoppers
order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids) - suborder Caelifera
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Snakeweed Grasshopper Hesperotettix viridis
Photo taken in Taylor County, September 2005
This group of grasshoppers don't eat grass. They eat Snakeweed.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Purplestriped Grasshopper Hesperotettix viridis viridis
Variation can have bolder reds and blues. Photos are not of the same specimen
Photos taken in Taylor County, July 2004, June 2005
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Pictured Grasshopper Dactylotum bicolor
Color variation, mostly bold: black & red, rainbow including blue.
Photo taken in Taylor County, July 2004
(Native of Texas)
Grasshopper in Argarita
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Yarrow's Spur-throat Grasshopper Melanoplus yarrowii
Widespread species with great color variation.
Photo taken in Taylor County, May 2004
(Native of Texas)
Grasshopper in Willow Baccharis
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
probably Differential Grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis
Widespread species with great color variation, most are not yellow or have the red hind leg.
Photo taken in Taylor County, September 2005
(Native of Texas)
Second Specimen
Grasshopper on a Illinois Bundle-flower pod
Photo rotated left
Photo taken in Taylor County, August 2005
Grasshoppers mating in a Slippery Elm tree
Photo rotated right
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Migratory Bird Locusts)
Spotted Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca lineata Aposematic form
There are three "forms" to this grasshopper. This is the one with bright yellow and dramatic black pattern. Main diet is Ash trees.
Photo taken in Taylor County, July 2004
(Native of Texas)
Nymph on Wild Mustard pods
Photo rotated right
? Family
? Common Name **zo 4** Scientific Name
Photo taken in Taylor County, April 2006
(Native of Texas)
Nymph hiding in White Prickly Poppy bracts
? Family
? Common Name **zo 6** Scientific Name
Photo taken in Taylor County, May 2005
(Native of Texas)
Hunting Similar Species
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Cream Grasshopper Cibolacris parviceps
This grasshopper has seen better days. It is missing a hind leg and part of the wing.
? Family
? Common Name **zo 7** Scientific Name
Photo taken in Taylor County, September 2006
(Native of Texas)
Similar Species
subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Migratory Bird Locusts)
probably Mischievous Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca damnifica
Uniform reddish color, sometimes with a light center stripe down head or back. Ridge is noticeable.
(Native of Texas)
? Family
? Common Name **zo 2** Scientific Name
Photo taken in Taylor County, August 2004
(Native of Texas)
Grasshopper on Yucca
Photo rotated right
? Family
? Common Name **zo 3** Scientific Name
Photo taken in Taylor County, June 2006
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Migratory Bird Locusts)
Gray Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca nitens
Photo taken in Taylor County, April 2009
Color variation: brown to gray.
(Native of Texas)
Tiny nymph on Tasajillo cactus
? Family
? Common Name **zo 5** Scientific Name
Photo taken in Taylor County, June 2004
(Native of Texas)
Other Species in My Area
family Romaleidae (Lubber Grasshoppers)
Plains Lubber Grasshopper Brachystola magna
Large saddle has a lighter "V" with a central dark line. Body has linear stripes. Variation in color: green, brown, red.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Migratory Bird Locusts)
American Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca americana
Large grasshopper, brown, cream line from head to end, black spots. When disturbed, flys into trees.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Migratory Bird Locusts)
Spotted Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca lineata Typical form
Mostly solid color but variable: green, brown, tan. Green has brown wing. Yellow/cream linear stripe down back. Yellow antina. Green variation simialr to S. obscura.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Migratory Bird Locusts)
Obscure Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca obscura
Solid green color with red/brown wing. Yellow/cream linear stripe down back. Yellow antenna. Leg has dark edge then lighter. Very similar to green S. lineata.
Black/gray with white veining, brown edges. Head comes to a top point.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Texas Point-Headed Grasshopper Acrolophitus maculipennis
Black/gray with mottled white veining, brown edges. Head comes to a top point. Thick antenna are reddish.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Green Fool Grasshopper Acrolophitus hirtipes
Green with mottled white/pink veining, brown edges. Head comes to a top point. Thick antenna are reddish. Saddle has rounded crest.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Brown Winter Grasshopper Amblytropidia mysteca
Brown, dark and light colors blend. Large eye.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Striped Slant-faced Grasshopper Amphitornus coloradus
Brown, dark and light stripes. Large eye.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Texas Slant-faced Grasshopper Mermiria texana
Brown, bold dark and light stripes. Very slanted head, cream antennae.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)
Admirable Grasshopper Syrbula admirabilis
Brown or green, dark and light stripes.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Thistle Grasshopper Aeoloplides turnbulli
Small, brown or green, light mottling.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)
Aztec Spur-throat Aidemona azteca
Small, variable coloration: plain brown to bold markings: black & white with red legs.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Oedipodinae (Band-winged Grasshoppers) - Tribe Chortophagini
Northern Green-striped Grasshopper Chortophaga viridifasciata
Females green, males brown. White stripe on top half of eye to back of head. Thick antennae.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Oedipodinae (Band-winged Grasshoppers) - Tribe Chortophagini
Band-winged Grasshopper Encoptolophus subgracilis
Females green (brown wings), males brown with some dark spot/bands. White stripe on top half of eye to back of head. Collar has a neck bend.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Oedipodinae (Band-winged Grasshoppers) - Tribe Chortophagini
Band-winged Grasshopper Encoptolophus costalis
Variable coloration: brown with tan banding, light gray with dark bands. White stripe on top half of eye to back of head. Collar has a neck bend. Blue lower legs.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Oedipodinae (Band-winged Grasshoppers) - Tribe Hippiscini
Wrinkled Grasshopper Hippiscus ocelote
Mottled brown, spotted wings. Dark antennae.
(Native of Texas)
family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers) - subfamily Oedipodinae (Band-winged Grasshoppers) - Tribe Hippiscini
Red-shanked Grasshopper Xanthippus corallipes pantherinus
Mottled brown, spotted wings. Dark antennae. Red or yellow lower legs
(Native of Texas)
