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Sonoran Desert Orthoptera

Most orthopterans are plant feeders and get their food by chewing the leaves or epidermis of Sonoran Desert plants. A few are detritivores and others are carnivorous. Many can stridulate and thus make calling noises. Immature orthoperans look much like the adults, but lack mature wings. The first pair of wings are leathery and are called tegmena. This guide shows only a select few.

Alkali Grasshopper Anconia integra Medium-sized grasshopper with large prominent eyes. Tegmina with pale rectangular splotches. Color can be green, brown or grayish. More info	Many Hued Grasshopper Poecilotettix sanguineus Gaudily colored. Generally hides in desert shrubs. Medium sized. More info	Humphrey's Grasshopper Barytettix humphreysii Adults have short, non-functional wings. Spur-like process on venter between head and thorax. Three dark trapezoids on sides of pronotum. More info	Blue-winged Grasshopper Leprus intermedius Mottled with shades of brown and tan. Membraneous wings in flight distinctly blue. Clacking sound when flying. More info	Yarrow's Grasshopper Melanplus yarrowii There are many species of Melanoplus spur-throats in Sonoran Desert. Clear yellow-brown with dark lateral marks on pronotum. More info
Pallid-winged Grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis Well camouflaged grasshopper often alighting on bare ground and having excellent flight capabilities. Occasionally abundant. More info	Horse Lubber Grasshopper Taeniopoda eques Black with gaudy markings in green and yellow. Underwings are pink. Very large and robust. Southeast Arizona only. More info

Gray Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca nitens Large gray grasshopper with long wings. Long distance flier. Spur-like process on venter between head and thorax. Occasionally common. More info	Spotted Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca lineata Large green or brown grasshopper with distinct pale line down top-center. Small yellow spots on sides of thorax. Solid color eyes?? More info	Green Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca shoshone Large, mostly green. Feeds on a variety of desert shrubs. Eyes with verticle banding?? More info	Desert Clicker Ligurotettix coquilletti Hides within desert shrubs, esp. Creosote Bush. Males produce incessant clicking sound in heat of day. More info	Red-shanked Grasshopper Xanthippus corallipes Intricately marked tegmina. Relatively large and robust. Legs reddish. More info
Tree Cricket Oecanthus sp. Delicate green with gossamer wings. Long hair-like antennae. Inhabits shrubs and trees; hides well. Several similar species. More info	Shield-backed Katydid Capnobotes fuliginosus Light tan to brown with long legs and sharp mandibles. Long thread-like antennae. Large. Largely nocturnal. More info	Elegant Bush Katydid Insara elegans Banded white and green. Long hair-like antennae. Feeds on in various shrubs. More info	Creosote Bush Katydid Insara covilleae Boldly marked, but nearly invisible in its creosote bush environment. Long, fine antennae. More info	Mexican Bush Katydid Scudderia mexicana Long, slender, green to brownish. Forewings often shorter than hindwings. Long hair-like antennae. Feeds on in various shrubs. More info

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