Subspecies Hesperotettix viridis pratensis - Purple-striped Grasshopper

Goldenrod Grasshopper

Found from the east base of the Rockies to roughly the Mississippi Valley and in southeast to northern Florida.

Open sunny areas, always associated with Composites, often Goldenrod, Coneflower, Aster, etc.

Various Asteraceae, mostly herbaceus.

Differs from subspecies viridis in its more even color pattern. There is usually stronger pink or purplish coloring on top of the pronotum, and any black areas are usually limited to a few patches on either side of the thorax, and sometimes a bit of black edging along either side of the mid-dorsal pale stripe. Usually the remaining black patterning seen in spp. viridis is lacking (such as the black sutures of the pronotum and sides of thorax). The white markings are also reduced, with the white lines on the tegmina usually totally absent, and the whitish heringbone pattern of the hind femur barely indicated (if at all).

When the two subspecies occur in the same area, this subspecies is usually found on different species of plants (often more herbaceous / less shrubby) in somewhat moister habitats. It is quite likely that this should be considered as a distinct, but related species.

Hesperotettix curtipennis is very similar, but occurs further west and has short wings. The relationship of curtipennis to ssp. pratensis should receive further attention, and possible interaction between the two should be studied where they meet along the eastern base of the Rockies.