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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Grasshoppers (Caelifera) » Short-horned Grasshoppers (Acrididae) » Bird Grasshoppers (Cyrtacanthacridinae) » Bird Grasshoppers (Schistocerca) » Gray Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens)
Photo#710244
Short-horned Grasshoper - Schistocerca nitens
Copyright © 2012 mhayes24

Short-horned Grasshoper - Schistocerca nitens
On a vessel offshore, 140 miles south of Galveston, TX.
September 30, 2012
Size: 3-4 inches.
I was hoping the stripe marking on the head would help easily ID the species. I thought I was getting close while looking in the Subfamily Oedipodinae (Band-winged Grasshoppers) but didn't see it. Then I thought I was getting close again in the Subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers).

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Short-horned Grasshoper - Schistocerca nitens Short-horned Grasshoper - Schistocerca nitens
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Contributed by mhayes24 on 1 October, 2012 - 9:45pm
Last updated 2 October, 2012 - 5:10am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… metrioptera, 2 October, 2012 - 5:10am login or register to post comments

This is Schistocerca nitens - the "Gray Bird Grasshopper"
Galveston is getting quite far east for this species. They often fly to lights though, and tend to move long distances in the autumn especially. This one looks to be a female.

I am curious, is this vessel stationary most of the time, or do you take in to shore frequently? If stationary, it is probably a welcome place to stop for insects caught flying over the ocean, and lights might draw them in at night. If you are in port part of the time, some of these things may be riding out to sea with you, and the most recent port of call is likely to be the origin of the insects.
… David J. Ferguson, 1 October, 2012 - 9:53pm login or register to post comments

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