Size
Males 20-26 mm body length, females 26-36 mm body length
Identification
Smallish, slender body; lateral lobes (sides) of pronotum with lower hind angle (not rounded); antennae long, broad, and flattened; wings usually bright orange to near red; in the northeastern states, sometimes yellow.
Typical orange wing color
Yellow wing variant (widespread in ME, NH, and MA populations)
In most of range,
Trachyrhachys kiowa is only closely similar species in size and structure, but has antennae shorter and slender, not flattened; wings clear to yellow.
Spharagemon marmorata often occurs in the same habitats, and is sometimes confused in photographs. It is similar in size and coloring (or slightly larger). However, the long antennae are slender; the hind tibiae are orange to red, the wings are yellow, the lateral lobes of the pronotum are rounded at the lower rear.
Range
Eastern United States, into southern Ontario. West as far as sw. Kansas (Edwards County) and the Texas Panhandle (east from the Caprock).
Habitat
Typically on sand in grassy areas
Season
Adults mostly from July-October; year-round in FL
Print References
Capinera,
Grasshoppers of Florida, pp. 68-69, plates 49-50
(1)
Capinera,
Field Guide to Grasshoppers..., p. 97, plate 20
(2)
Hefler, pp. 124-125, fig. 204, includes diagram of antenna
(3)
Bland, p. 113, photo of specimen
(4)Internet References
Grasshoppers of Florida - has a great key and plenty of info and pics.
