Green-Striped Grasshopper

chortophaga viridifasciata

The Green-Striped Grasshopper is a fascinating orthopteran widely distributed across North America. Often among the very first grasshoppers to emerge in the spring, it overwinters as a late-stage nymph rather than an egg, giving it a major head start as soon as temperatures begin to rise. This species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism and color polymorphism, making it a highly variable and intriguing subject for nature spotters.

Habitat: Typically found in sunny, open areas with short grass, such as pastures, fields, roadsides, and suburban lawns.

Appearance

This medium-sized grasshopper ranges from 2 to 4 cm in length, with females being significantly larger than males. They display a distinct high ridge on the pronotum (the shield behind the head) cut by a single small notch. Coloration is highly polymorphic: females are typically bright green with a brown stripe on each forewing, while males are mostly brown with pale markings. In flight, their hind wings reveal a clear to pale-yellow base with a smoky dark band along the outer margin, spanning 4 to 7 cm.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOrthopteraFamilyAcrididaeGenusChortophaga

Green-Striped Grasshopper

Interesting facts

The crackling sound they make in flight is called crepitation and is produced by the snapping of their wings, not by rubbing their legs together.

The green-striped grasshopper is often the very first grasshopper you will see in the spring, sometimes emerging while there is still snow on the ground.

Their color is highly influenced by temperature and humidity during development; cooler, wetter conditions tend to produce more green individuals, while dry conditions yield brown ones.

Special abilities

Males can produce a loud, dry crackling sound during flight by snapping their hind wings together, which is used for territory defense and mate attraction.

Their coloration is influenced by environmental moisture and temperature during development, allowing them to match the surrounding green spring foliage or dry summer grasses.

They survive freezing winter temperatures as active nymphs rather than eggs, allowing them to become active on warm winter days and emerge early in spring.