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