Subspecies Xanthippus corallipes pantherinus - Red-shanked grasshopper

Several names were given to the same basic type of insect by Scudder in 1892, and all have equal priority as valid names. However, Hebard, in 1929 picked the name pantherinus as the prefered name as a subspecies under X. corallipes, listing some of the others as synonyms, making this the proper and legal name for the subspecies.

However, there are older names described from further south in Mexico, which should they prove to be the same subspecies, would take priority and replace the name pantherinus. Further stucy is needed on these Mexican populations.

The largest subspecies of X. corallipes and the most southern one found in the United States. Wings are always yellow. Inner face of hind femur can be bright red (sometimes orange, rarely yellow), or it can be dominated by blue-black. The back of the head is usually blue in color.

Not likely to be confused with other species found with it, except for Pardalophora saussurei in it's eastern range. That species has wings sometimes orange or rarely red, the pronotum is acutely angled at the top rear, usually with prominent irregular ridges parallel to the rear margin, and with the median crest rather high (by comparison) and cut through only once. The inner hind femur in P. saussurei is not deep blue black but rather a less dark bluish, with light portions (and tibiae) usually yellow or orange (but occasionally red). That species can on occasion have a body color of green, which has not been reported in X. corallipes pantherinus.

Roughly south of the Kansas River drainage on the Great Plains, and south from the Canyonlands region on the Colorado Plateaus. It is rare westward in southern Nevada and southeastern California. Found from Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada south across Texas well into northern Mexico. Occurs further east (into eastern KS, OK, & TX) than ssp. latifasciatus. Blends into other subspecies at higher elevation and northward, notably with ssp. latifasciatus on the Great Plains and with ssp. corallipes in the Colorado Plateaus and southernmost Great Basin.

Grasslands, usually with gentle terrain and dominated by short grasses.

Overwinters as half grown to nearly mature nymphs, with adults common in spring, but some often surviving until first freezes of autumn. Adults mature later in relation to the end of winter than do other subspecies from colder climates, and are often most common in late May or June. Some usually appear as early as April (rarely March), and they are often quite abundant into August.

Occasionally attracted to bright lights at night, but apparently only if the lights are within its habitat.