Clear-winged grasshopper (Camnula pellucida)
| Clear-winged grasshopper (Camnula pellucida) | |
|---|---|
| Clear-winged grasshopper | |
 | |
| Distribution | |
| Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia | |
| Taxonomy | |
| Family: | Acrididae |
| Subfamily: | Oedipodinae |
| Genus: | Camnula |
| Additional resources | |
| Full taxonomy at OSF | |
The clear-winged grasshopper (Camnula pellucida) is abundantly distributed across the northern United States and southern Canada, particularly in grasslands and agricultural areas. It is most notably identified by its clear hind wings. This species primarily feeds on grasses and cereal crops, making it one of the three most destructive agricultural pests in this region. Its populations are especially influenced by temperature, as well as other environmental factors like moisture, and food availability. During outbreaks, large swarms can cause extensive damage to crops and rangelands, leading to economic concerns for farmers and land managers.
Nomenclature
Camnula pellucida (Scudder, 1862). For full nomenclature, see this taxon's page on Orthoptera Species File
Identification
The clear-winged grasshopper has a small to medium sized body. Their color is generally mottled light brown with a dark spot behind the eye on the head, and a dark vertical spot on the front half of the lateral lobe of the pronotum. The pronotum has a flat, smooth disc that is wider at the rear and truncated at the front. The median carina is low, of consistent height, and faintly indented by a sulcus (groove) ahead of the middle. The lateral lobes are deeper than they are long. The tegmina are narrow and extend beyond the apex of the abdomen. [1] [2] The tegmina are smoky brown, with light and dark patches on the sides, and darker on the dorsal surface, with a yellowish stripe along the humeral angle.[1] [2] The stripe extends from the bases to the tips that form a narrow “v” when viewed from above. [3] The hind wings are transparent with dark veins. The hind femur is yellowish-brown, darker at the apex, and faintly marked with dark bars. The tibia is yellowish-brown, and the abdomen is yellowish beneath, with darker sides. [1] [2] Clear-winged grasshoppers appear lighter in color as they age, and adults of these species turn bright yellow when they are sexually active. [2]
First-instar nymphs are boldly marked with black bars. Later instars exhibit minimal variation in body color, typically displaying shades of brown, tan, and black. They often have a yellow underbelly. The pronotum features an unnotched ridge called a carina, and a dark bar extends from below the antennae bases through the eyes. [3] See page 26 of Shell et al. 2005 for an image.
The clear-winged grasshopper are the only band-winged grasshopper with translucent hind wings and can be identified by this characteristic. However, this species is similar in appearance to the spur-throated grasshoppers which also have clear wings, but can be differentiated as spur-throated grasshoppers have a spur ventrally between head and thorax. The blue-legged grasshopper (Metator pardalinus) and other similar-sized band-winged species resemble C. pellucida but have colored hind wings.[3]
| Instar | Color/ Description | Wings | Body length | Hind femur | Antennal segment number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs[3] | Light brown | 4.7mm[3] | |||
| Egg Pod[3] | Usually short, short and slightly curved[3] | 16mm long[3] | |||
| 1 | Cream, tan and black[2] | 4 to 6 mm [3] | 2.4 to 2.7mm[2] | 11-13[2] | |
| 2 | 5 to 7.1mm[2] | 3.4 to 3.8mm[2] | 14-16[2] | ||
| 3 | 7.3 to 8.9mm[2] | 4.7 to 5.2mm[2] | 18[2] | ||
| 4 | 10 to 14 mm[2] | 6 to 7.2mm[2] | 20-22[2] | ||
| 5 | 14 to 20 mm[2] | 8.4 to 9.9mm[2] | 22-25[2] | ||
| Adult Males | mottled brown
light brown |
Tegmina smoky brown with light and dark patches, darker dorsally, and a yellowish stripe along the humeral angle; hind wings transparent with dark veins. |
males: 17-21 mm [1] [3] | ||
| Adult females | mottled brown
light brown |
Tegmina smoky brown with light and dark patches, darker dorsally, and a yellowish stripe along the humeral angle; hind wings transparent with dark veins. |
females: 19.5-28.5 mm [1] Females 22- 25 mm [3] | ||
| Sexually mature adult | Bright yellow |
Identification resources
Distribution
The clear-winged grasshopper ranges from Alaska to Nova Scotia down towards Mexico. [1] It is widely distributed across southern Canada, the western half of the United States and in northeastern United States. Distribution also extends south along the Appalachians as far as Virginia. [5]
Biology
Camnula pellucida is an early hatching univoltine species, overwintering in the egg stage with eggs hatching from May to early July.[2][3] Males and females both have five instars. Development is rapid in ideal conditions of warmth, and good vegetation and can take from 26 to 40 days.[3] Seasonally, eggs are laid from mid-summer to early fall and require time for embryonic development before winter for survival. [1] Peak hatching typically occurs between May 15 and June 15, from egg pods predominantly laid in sod. Hatching occurs in mass numbers, typically peaking around noon, especially on warm days after rainfall. Females of this species tend to gather in groups and lay their eggs in the root crowns of sod-forming grasses. In field cage studies, females produced an average of 180 eggs. Even with a single egg pod containing 10 to 38 eggs, they have the potential for a rapid population increase. [3] Egg beds formed by females of these species may contain 3,000 to 10,000 eggs per square foot.[2] Egg disbursing behavior may vary. Some habitats may be widely distributed over the entire infested area and hard to notice at first glance, in other areas eggs may be continuously laid at the same spot, resulting in a few spots with heavy concentrations.[6]
| Phase | Developmental time |
|---|---|
| Eggs | |
| Nymph | |
| Adult | |
| Laying-fledging | |
| Adult maturation | Males: 5-7 days[2]
Females: 7-10 days[2] |
| Total |
Habitat and ecology
The species is found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, irrigated pastures, river valleys, mountain meadows.[7] [8] [3] It is particularly common in undisturbed areas like roadsides and grassy fields, earning it the unofficial name "roadside grasshopper". When it appears in crop fields, it typically migrates from these undisturbed locations and often returns to them to lay its eggs. [1] This species often becomes the dominant grasshopper in its preferred habitat, with populations rising from inconspicuous levels to high densities in as little as three years. [3]
The clear-winged grasshopper is graminivorous. Some notable plants that it prefers are: western wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, smooth brome, Sandberg bluegrass, yarrow, carex, Junegrass, foxtail barley, needle grass, quackgrass, and bluegrass. [7] Clear-winged grasshopper behavior is highly influenced by air temperatures. This relationship is important to understand as it informs outbreak control strategies to ensure treatments are delivered at opportune times and affect the most hopper individuals at once. A field that is swarming with grasshoppers at mid-day may not appear to contain a single grasshopper an hour after sundown. [6]
Neither sex crepitates in flight, but resting males produce "ordinary" stridulation using one or both femora. Courting males attract nearby females by performing femur-tipping, where they move or raise their femora in a specific way. Femur-tipping and shaking are also used as aggressive signals between males, signaling dominance or territory. [1]
The clear-winged grasshopper exhibits strong migratory capabilities. [2] Adults can undertake dispersal flights at both low and high altitudes, as well as long-distance migrations. Females frequently travel between feeding grounds and egg-laying sites for oviposition. Nymphs disperse from the egg beds to the nearest green vegetation, while older nymphs move in cohesive marching bands.[3] Nymphs of this species have been estimated to disperse over 75ha from an egg site of 800 square meters before reaching maturity.[1]
| Habitats | Food sources | Environmental conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabits mixed-grass prairies; bunchgrass prairies; mountain meadows (>10000ft); roadsides; Overgrazed pastures; dried out marshy areas[3][9]
Preferred: undisturbed loam soil Oviposition: barren; ungrazed areas on/near hilltops; Knolls[3] May reach around or above 10,000 eggs per square meter as adults lay eggs[9] |
Pest of grains and grasses, but are most destructive to spring wheat[3]
Preference for cereal grams and succulent cultivated grasses[9] Most grasses including: Succulent Western Wheatgrass; Reed Canary grass; Wheat; Barley; Variety of Fescues; Bluegrasses; Bromes; Slender hairgrass; small volumes of forbes; Fireweed; Several Legume species; Onions; Lettuce; turnip; cabbage; Peas; Idaho Fescue; Red Fescue; Crested Wheatgrasss; Alfalfa; Turnip, Tobacco[3][2][1] Rarely feeds on the following: Broad-leaved plants such as pulses and canola[9] |
Fueling outbreaks: Hot and sunny afternoons; Gentle wind; reduced predation; rain to keep succulent vegetation[2]
Tend to fly several hundred yards[2] Soil moisture required for continued initial development; will not move on windy days or days without any wind[2][6] Optimal conditions for growth, reproduction, and egg laying: Warm, sunny, dry and cold and moist temperatures reduce egg-laying and delay development[10] At temperatures at or below 70 F individuals won’t travel or migrate (<40 F not-survivable), around 65 F to 68 F they bask in the sunlight and continue exhibiting normal behavior as temperatures rise to 104 F.[6] Peak mating occurs at temperatures around 74 F to 75 F, and peak poisoned bran marsh feeding temperatures range from 71 F to 77 F. [6] |
Land-use change
The clear-winged grasshopper became abundant in the Prairie provinces in Canada around 1900, alongside the construction of roads, drainage and cultivation in Manitoba. This change in land-use created favorable breeding sites and an increase of preferred food sources, causing an abundance of clear-winged grasshoppers. Due to shifts in agricultural practices, there has been a decrease in population in Manitoba in recent years.[9]
Pest status
The clear-winged grasshopper is a significant pest of forage grasses and small grains. It is one of the top dozen species monitored by USDA APHIS because of its impact on rangelands. Populations fluctuate dramatically in both abundance and distribution. They can remain largely unseen for several years before gradually increasing over three to four years, reaching peak numbers within two to three more years. When adults swarm, they can also pose a threat to broadleaf crops. They are aggressive feeders on rangelands, with as few as 20 grasshoppers per square yard capable of consuming all available forage. During outbreaks, populations can expand from a small area of rangeland to over 2,000 square miles, consisting mainly of clear-winged grasshoppers. Densities exceeding 125 per square yard have been frequently recorded. Outbreaks are likely triggered by favorable weather conditions, nutritious host plants, and lower levels of predation, parasitism, and disease. Optimal weather includes above-average spring and summer temperatures, as well as enough rainfall to keep plants like fescue, bluegrass, and wheat lush. Population crashes can occur due to fungal infections, drought leading to starvation, low temperatures hindering development, or freezing soil temperatures causing egg mortality. This species readily takes wheat-bran-poisoned bait. [3] [2]
Recent outbreaks
Outbreak media coverage
No results found in the database at this time—please reach out if you have any to share!
Associated organizations
No results found in the database at this time—please reach out if you have any to share!
Resources
| Name | Year published | Resource link | Descriptive keyword | Language | Geographic purview | Author | Year published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable use and conservation of microbial and invertebrate biological control agents and microbial biostimulants | 2023 | View URL | Management, Biological control, Biopesticide | English | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania | Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International | 2023 |
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Vickery VR, Kevan DKM (1985) The Insets and Arachnids of Canada: Part 14. The grasshoppers, crickets, and related insects of Canada and adjacent regions: Ulonata: Dermaptera, Cheleutoptera, Notoptera, Dictuoptera, Grylloptera, and Orthoptera. Publication 1777. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, 918 pp. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/aac-aafc/agrhist/A42-42-1985-14-eng.pdf.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 Pfadt RE (2002) Field guide to common western grasshoppers. Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 912, 1–80. https://hopperwiki.org/images/d/db/Field_Guide_to_Common_Western_Grasshoppers.pdf
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 Schell SP, Latchininsky AV, Shambaugh BA (2005) Common Wyoming Pest Grasshoppers. 2nd Edition B-1161.Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service and Department of Renewable Resources. 76 p. https://hopperwiki.org/images/5/51/Common_Wyoming_Pest_Grasshoppers.pdf
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedJohnson 2010 - ↑ Brooks AR (1958) Acridoidea of Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (Orthoptera). The Canadian Entomologist (Supplement 9) 90:5-92.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Parker JR (1924) Observations of the Clear-Winged Grasshopper (Camnula pellucida Scudder). 46 pp. Available from: http://archive.org/details/observationsofcl00park (February 20, 2025).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Capinera JL, Sechrist TS (1999) Grasshoppers (Acrididae) of Colorado: Identification, Biology, and Management. Colorado State University Experiment Station Bulletin No. 584S. https://www.uwyo.edu/entomology/grasshoppers/colorado/index.html.
- ↑ Hebard M (1929) The Orthoptera of Colorado. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 81, 303–425.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Government of Alberta (n.d.) Clear-winged grasshopper. https://www.alberta.ca/clear-winged-grasshopper.
- ↑ Pickford R. (1966) Development, Survival and Reproduction of Camnula pellucida (Scudder) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Relation to Climatic Conditions. The Canadian Entomologist. 98(2):158-169. doi:10.4039/Ent98158-2