grasshopper id
Location:  Houston, TX
August 14, 2010 9:02 am
I have noticed this grasshopper in my gardens recently.Could you please tell me what kind it is?
Sue

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Hi Sue,
This large flightless grasshopper is known as the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera.  There is both a light and dark variation.  You may read more about the Eastern Lubber Grasshopper on BugGuide.

Thank you very much, I suspected it was an Eastern Lubber but wasn’t positive so thank you for the confirmation!

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Insect found in Katherine, Australia
July 3, 2010
Am trying to classify my fauna and flora pics from Oz but can’t find the name of this insect. Is this a kind of hopper?
Thank you for your help
DucatiGirl
Katherine, Australia

Blistered Grasshopper

Dear DucatiGirl,
In 2008, we identified this species as a Blistered Grasshopper, Monistria pustulifera, also known as an Inland Painted Grasshopper from the family Pyrgomorphidae. The Australian Insects website has some information.

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Unkown Texas Grasshopper
June 9, 2010
These grasshoppers, like the other grasshoppers in my neighborhood, appear in the summer and stay until fall. I call them ‘Chubbyhoppers’, due to their somewhat rounded appearance, but I have decided to find out what they are actually called. They appear in brown and green, and get about 1/2 inch to 1 and 3/4 inches long. They also appear to be a food for local katydids, as I saw a katydid eat one. I think these are nymphs, as they have underdeveloped wings, but I have seen winged versions of the same grasshopper. What is confusing, though, is I never see these winged ones longer than 1 inch. My picture of the brown form is clear, but the green one may be to blurry. Please help me find out what this grasshopper is called! (P.S. I am including a picture of the winged o ne, too.)
Robert
New Braunfels, Texas, USA

Grasshopper Nymph

Hi Robert,
We only have time to post your letter, and we will try to identify the species of these cute Grasshopper nymphs later.

Grasshopper Nymph

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Grasshopper Identification
May 30, 2010
After a lot of useless search on the net, I’m going to post the picture of this grasshopper for identification. It’s commonly found in the months of August and September. Mainly feed on plant “Urochloa maxima” in family Poaceae.
Any help in identification will be highly appreciate.
birdy
Pakistan, NWFP

Pradka Grasshopper from Pakistan

Dear Birdy,
We need to research your beautiful Grasshopper.  Meanwhile, we will post the image in the hope that one of our readers is able to assist in the identification.

Karl provides an identification
June 1, 2010
Hi Daniel and Birdy:
I am almost certain that this lovely grasshopper belongs to the genus Heiroglyphus (Acrididae). The most characteristic feature of the genus is the 3 or 4 grooves (sulci) that run vertically along the sides of the pronotum, joining across the top. These sulci are usually but not always lined in black. I looked at several keys and the only species that has this particular arrangement of lined and unlined sulci is H. nigrorepletus. The black lines joining all sulci at the top and the first and third along the bottom are especially distinctive (the second sulci does not extend down along the sides). Several species have the blue tibia with white black-tipped spines, including H. nigrorepletus. The common name in India and Pakistan is the Phadka Grasshopper, and it is considered to be a pest where it occurs in agricultural areas (rice, sugar cane, hemp, maize and sorghum). It apparently swarms occasionally but this is not typical. There are very good descriptions and accounts in Kirby, 1914 (as H. bettoni) and Mason, 1973. The latter is particularly good and both can be downloaded as PDF files. I was able to find only one online image of what I believe is the same species (unfortunately no identification given) that shows a mating pair. Birdy, the one you posted looks like an immature late instar male. Your excellent photo was most helpful. Regards.  Karl

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