After loving grasshoppers as a kid, then subsequently paying them little attention, I’ve fallen back in love with grasshoppers! Probably the main reason grasshoppers have returned to the top of my list of favorite insects is due to a great book that enables me to identify virtually all of the species in Florida, where I’ve been living since 2006. Easy access to species-specific information always makes learning a new group more fun and rewarding, and I thank Dr. Capinera for paving the way for me!
For the past few months, I’ve attempted to photograph most of the grasshopper species I encounter, as I try to learn them. I’ve found grasshoppers to be incredibly photogenic, and usually not too difficult to sneak up on to photograph with a macro lens (100mm). That is, not too difficult compared to butterflies…
Up until now, I’ve simply tweeted all of my grasshopper photos, in order to share them with anyone interested. In an effort to keep track of which Florida species I’ve photographed, plan trips to photograph missing species, and to archive these photos in a place where they may be more easily accessible, I’ve decided to maintain the following list of Florida grasshopper species, illustrated with my photos, as a blog post. I’ll update this post regularly as I obtain additional photos.
While the Capinera book is by far the best reference for Florida grasshopper species, much new information has been gathered since the book’s publication, and several new taxa have been described. Currently, the most up-to-date list of Florida grasshopper species is maintained by the Mississippi Entomological Museum, listing 94 taxa (88 species + some subspecies) for the state. The list below is taken directly from the Mississippi Entomological Museum’s site, and will be updated as their list is updated.
Gomphocerinae
Achurum carinatum (F. Walker) Longheaded Toothpick Grasshopper
Achurum carinatum, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 7-XII-2013
Achurum carinatum male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 19-V-2013
Amblytropidia mysteca (Saussure) Brown Winter Grasshopper
Amblytropidia mysteca, FL: Alachua Co.: Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve, 9-XI-2013
Dichromorpha elegans (Morse) Elegant Grasshopper
Dichromorpha viridis (Scudder) Shortwinged Green Grasshopper
Dichromorpha viridis male, FL: Alachua Co.: Cross Creek: Seven Sisters, 13-X-2013
Dichromorpha viridis female, FL: Alachua Co.: Cross Creek: Seven Sisters, 13-X-2013
Dichromorpha viridis female, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 31-X-2013
Eritettix obscurus (Scudder) Obscure Slantfaced Grasshopper
Mermiria bivittata (Serville) Twostriped Mermiria Grasshopper
Mermiria intertexta Scudder Eastern Mermiria Grasshopper
Mermiria picta (F. Walker) Lively Mermiria Grasshopper
Orphulella pelidna (Burmeister) Spotwinged Grasshopper
Orphulella pelidna male, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 31-X-2013
Orphulella pelidna green form male, FL: Levy Co.: Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve, 8-XII-2013
Orphulella pelidna ovipositing female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 8-XI-2013
Syrbula admirabilis (Uhler) Handsome Grasshopper
Syrbula admirabilis male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 11-XI-2013
Acridinae
Metaleptea brevicornis (Johannson) Clippedwing Grasshopper
Metaleptea brevicornis male, FL: Alachua Co.: Cross Creek: Seven Sisters, 13-X-2013
Metaleptea brevicornis, FL: Alachua Co.: Cross Creek: Seven Sisters, 9-XI-2013
Oedipodinae
Arphia granulata (Sassure) Southern Yellowwinged Grasshopper
Arphia granulata male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 19-V-2013
Arphia granulata male, FL: Alachua Co.: Cross Creek: Seven Sisters, 13-X-2013
Arphia sulphurea (Fabricius) Sulfurwinged Grasshopper
Arphia xanthoptera (Burmeister) Autumn Yellowwinged Grasshopper
Chortophaga austrailor Rehn & Hebard Southern Greenstriped Grasshopper
Chortophaga australior green form female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 27-IV-2013
Chortophaga australior brown form male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 27-IV-2013
Chortophaga australior being eaten by a robberfly (Proctacanthus sp.), FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 2-IX-2013
Dissosteira carolina (Linnaeus) Carolina Grasshopper
Hippiscus ocelote (Saussure) Wrinkled Grasshopper
Hippiscus ocelote male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 26-X-2013
Pardalophora phoenicoptera (Burmeister) Orangewinged Grasshopper
Psinidia fenestralis (Serville) Longhorn Bandwinged Grasshopper
Psinidia fenestralis male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 27-IV-2013
Psinidia fenestralis female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 27-IV-2013
Spharagemon bolli Scudder Boll’s Grasshopper
Spharagemon crepitans (Saussure) Crepitating Grasshopper
Spharagemon cristatum (Scudder) Ridgeback Sand Grasshopper
Spharagemon cristatum, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 28-XI-2013
Spharagemon cristatum, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 8-XI-2013
Spharagemon marmorata picta (Scudder) Marbled Grasshopper
Spharagemon marmorata picta male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 27-IV-2013
Spharagemon marmorata picta female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 27-IV-2013
Trimerotropis maritima (Harris) Seaside Grasshopper
Leptysminane
Leptysma marginicollis (Serville) Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper
Stenacris vitreipennis (Marschall) Glassywinged Toothpick Grasshopper
Cyrtacanthacridinae
Schistocerca alutacea Harris Rusty Grasshopper
Schistocerca alutacea female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 11-XI-2013
Schistocerca americana (Drury) American Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca americana male, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 23-X-2013
Schistocera ceratiola Hubbell and Walker Rosemary Grasshopper
Schistocerca ceratiola female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 8-XI-2013
Schistocerca ceratiola male, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 28-XI-2013
Schistocerca ceratiola mating pair, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 11-XI-2013
Schistocerca damnifica (Saussure) Mischevous Grasshopper
Schistocerca damnifica male, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 30-X-2013
Schistocerca obscura (Fabricius) Obscure Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca rubiginosa (Harris) Rubiginosa Grasshopper
Melanoplinae
Aptenopedes aptera aptera Scudder Wingless Florida Grasshopper
Aptenopedes aptera aptera male, FL: Marion Co.: W of Ocala, 25-X-2013
Aptenopedes aptera aptera female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 28-XI-2013
Aptenopedes aptera aptera female, FL: Marion Co., W of Ocala, 25-X-2013
Aptenopedes aptera aptera mating pair, FL: Alachua Co.: Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve, 9-XI-2013
Aptenopedes aptera coquinae Hebard Wingless Florida Grasshopper
Aptenopedes aptera saturiba Hebard Wingless Florida Grasshopper
Aptenopedes aptera simplex Hebard Wingless Florida Grasshopper
Aptenopedes hubbelli Hebard Hubbell’s Grasshopper
Aptenopedes nigropicta Hebard Nigropicta Grasshopper
Aptenopedes robusta Hebard Robust Grasshopper
Aptenopedes sphenariodes apalachee Hebard Linearwinged Grasshopper
Aptenopedes sphenarioides clara Rehn Linearwinged Grasshopper
Aptenopedes sphenarioides sphenarioides Scudder Linearwinged Grasshopper
Aptenopedes sphenarioides sphenarioides male, FL: Alachua Co.: Cross Creek: Seven Sisters, 13-X-2013
Aptenopedes sphenarioides sphenarioides male, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 14-XI-2013
Aptenopedes sphenarioides sphenarioides male, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 12-XII-2013
Aptenopedes sphenarioides sphenarioides female, FL: Levy Co.: near Bronson, 5-X-2013
Eotettix palustris Morse Swamp Eastern Grasshopper
Eotettix pusillus Morse Little Eastern Grasshopper
Eotettix signatus Scudder Handsome Florida Grasshopper
Gymnoscirtetes morsei Hebard Morse’s Wingless Grasshopper
Gymnoscirtetes pusillus Scudder Little Wingless Grasshopper
Gymnoscirtetes pusillus mating pair, FL: Alachua Co.: Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve, 9-XI-2013
Hesperotettix floridensis Morse Florida Purplestriped Grasshopper
Hesprotettix gemmicula Hebard Gemmicula Grasshopper
Hesperotettix osceola Hebard Osceola’s Grasshopper
Hesperotettix viridis pratensis Scudder Meadow Purplestriped Grasshopper
Melanoplus adelogyrus Hubbell St. Johns Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus apalachicolae Hubbell Apalachicola Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus bispinosus Scudder Twospined Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus bonita Otte Beautiful Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus carrabellae Otte Carrabell’s Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus childsi Otte Child’s Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus davisi Hebard Davis’ Oak Grasshopper
Melanoplus decoratus Morse Decorated Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus forcipatus Hubbell Toothcercus Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus furcatus Scudder Larger Forktailed Grasshopper
Melanoplus gurneyi Strohecker Gurney’s Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus impudicus Scudder Immodest Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus indicifer Hubbell Spinecercus Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus keeleri keeleri (Thomas) Keeler’s Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus kissimmee Otte Kissimmee Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus nanciae Deyrup Ocala Clawcercus Grasshopper
Melanoplus ordwayae Deyrup Trail Ridge Scrub Grasshopper
Melanoplus peatus Otte Peatus Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus peninsularis Hubbell Peninsular Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus propinquus Scudder Southern Redlegged Grasshopper
Melanoplus propinquus male, FL: Marion Co.: W of Ocala, 25-X-2013
Melanoplus propinquus male, FL: Marion Co.: W of Ocala, 25-X-2013
Melanoplus propinquus ovipositing female, FL: Alachua Co.: Gainesville, UF campus at NATL, 31-X-2013
Melanoplus puer (Scudder) Florida Least Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus punctulatus arboreus Scudder Pinetree Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus punctulatus punctulatus (Scudder) Pinetree Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus pygmaeus Davis Pygmy Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus quercicola Hebard Acorn Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus querneus Rehn and Hebard Oak Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus rotundipennis (Scudder) Roundwinged Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus sanguinipes vulturnus Gurney and Brooks Migratory Grasshopper
Melanoplus scapularis Rehn and Hebard Lesser Forktailed Grasshopper
Melanoplus scudderi scudderi (Uhler) Scudder’s Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus sebringi Otte Sebring’s Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus seminole Hubbell Seminole Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus strumosus Morse Strumosus Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus symmetricus Morse Symmetrical Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus tepidus Morse Southern Obovatewinged Grasshopper
Melanoplus tequestae Hubbell Tequesta Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus withlacoocheensis Squitier and Deyrup Withlacoochee Spurthroat Grasshopper
Melanoplus zento Otte Zento Spurthroat Grasshopper
Paroxya atlantica Scudder Atlantic Grasshopper
Paroxya clavuliger (Serville) Olivegreen Swamp Grasshopper
Paroxya paroxyoides (Scudder) Paroxyoides Swamp Grasshopper
Paroxya recta Scudder Recta Swamp Grasshopper
Romaleidae
Romalea microptera (Beauvois) Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
Romalea microptera nymph, FL: Levy Co., ca. 8 mi SW Bronson, 19-V-2013
Romalea microptera female, FL: Marion Co.: Hwy. 316 at Oklawaha River, 15-IX-2013
lepscience 