HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

2018 BugGuide Gathering in Virginia July 27-29: Registration and Discussion

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in Virginia, June 4-7.

Photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in Arizona, July 25-28

Photos of insects and people from the 2012 gathering in Alabama

Photos of insects and people from the 2011 gathering in Iowa

Photos from the 2010 Workshop in Grinnell, Iowa

Photos from the 2009 gathering in Washington

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Grasshoppers (Caelifera) » Short-horned Grasshoppers (Acrididae) » Spur-throated Grasshoppers (Melanoplinae) » Dactylotini » Dactylotum » Rainbow Grasshopper (Dactylotum bicolor)

Species Dactylotum bicolor - Rainbow Grasshopper

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Dactylotum bicolor nymph - Dactylotum bicolor - male

Grasshopper - Dactylotum bicolor - female

Rainbow Grasshopper - Dactylotum bicolor - female

Rainbow grasshopper - Dactylotum bicolor - male - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)

Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)

Family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)

Subfamily Melanoplinae (Spur-throated Grasshoppers)

Tribe Dactylotini

Genus Dactylotum

Species bicolor (Rainbow Grasshopper)

Other Common Names

Painted Grasshopper, Pictured Grasshopper, Barber Pole Grasshopper, Uncle Sam

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Dactylotum variegatum, Dactylotum pictum. Latter is sometimes listed as a separate species.

Size

20 mm (males), 35 mm (females)

Identification

Bold color pattern is distinctive. Hind tibiae are spiny. Wings are small.

Range

Western Great Plains of United States (and southern Canada), southward to Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and into northern Mexico.

Habitat

Shortgrass praire, sparsely vegetated areas, alfalfa fields, desert grasslands.

Season

Generally August-September. June-October (New Mexico).

Food

Various low-growing forbs, some grasses(?). Rarely attacks crops.

Life Cycle

Female deposits eggs in soft soil in masses of about 100 eggs. She may lay up to twelve batches. Eggs overwinter and hatch late, usually later spring or early summer, so adults are present in late summer and into early fall. One generation per year.

Print References

Capinera p. 111, plate 22 (1)

Helfer pp. 197-198, fig. 319 (2)

Milne, pp. 418-419, fig. 259 (3)

Arnett and Jacques #21 (4)

Salsbury, p. 68 (5)

Internet References

Grasshoppers of Colorado

Forestry Images

Orthoptera of the Northern Great Plains

Grasshoppers of New Mexico

Works Cited

1.	Field Guide To Grasshoppers, Katydids, And Crickets Of The United States John L. Capinera, Ralph D. Scott, Thomas J. Walker. 2004. Cornell University Press.

2.	How to Know the Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, and Their Allies Jacques R. Helfer. 1962. Wm. C. Brown Company.

3.	National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders Lorus and Margery Milne. 1980. Knopf.

4.	Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques. 1981. Fireside.

5.	Insects in Kansas Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White. 2000. Kansas Dept. of Agriculture.

Contributed by Cotinis on 14 September, 2005 - 9:04am
Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Last updated 8 August, 2009 - 7:49pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2018 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version