# Rainbow Grasshopper (*dactylotum bicolor*) The Rainbow Grasshopper is one of North America's most dazzling insects, renowned for its brilliant, multi-colored exoskeleton. Resembling a meticulously hand-painted toy, this small grasshopper displays a striking mosaic of red, orange, yellow, blue, and black markings. Unlike many of its drab green or brown relatives, this species uses its vibrant appearance as a visual warning to potential predators rather than a tool for camouflage, making it highly conspicuous. It is a beloved sight for nature enthusiasts exploring the arid grasslands, shortgrass prairies, and desert scrublands of the Great Plains and Chihuahuan Desert. Because they are mostly flightless, they can often be observed slowly walking or jumping among low-growing vegetation, showcasing their brilliant patterns up close. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Found in dry shortgrass prairies, desert shrublands, and rocky hillsides across western North America. ![Rainbow Grasshopper](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/101079258/medium.jpg) Photo: Catherine C. Galley, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/101079258) ## Appearance This species is instantly recognizable by its bold, non-overlapping bands of reddish-orange, bright yellow, and deep black or dark blue. The base color is typically black to dark olive green, with vibrant yellow and red stripes running along its pronotum and abdomen. They are relatively small, measuring between 2 to 4 centimeters in length. Due to their flightless nature, their wings are reduced to tiny, non-functional oval pads that do not cover the abdomen. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Orthoptera - **Family:** Acrididae - **Genus:** Dactylotum ## Interesting facts - Their bright coloration is a form of aposematism, warning predators of their foul taste, which they acquire by eating toxic plants like snakeweed. - They are also known as the painted grasshopper because their vibrant markings look like they were carefully applied by hand. - Unlike most grasshoppers, the Rainbow Grasshopper cannot fly because its wings are reduced to tiny, non-functional pads. ## Special abilities - **Aposematic Defense:** Utilizes its bright, high-contrast coloration to warn predators of its foul taste and potential toxicity. - **Dietary Toxin Sequestration:** Safely consumes and stores toxic compounds from host plants, making itself unpalatable to birds and lizards. - **Agile Low-Level Jumping:** Uses strong hind legs to make quick, erratic leaps through dense ground vegetation to evade threats since it cannot fly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 2+ cm - **Weight:** 0.001+ kg - **Lifespan:** 1+ years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10+ - **Incubation:** 200+ days ## Diet & Feeding Feeds primarily on a variety of low-growing desert herbs, wildflowers, and native grasses, often targeting toxic host plants. - **Age differences:** Nymphs feed on soft, tender shoots of young plants, while mature adults consume tougher, more fibrous vegetation. - **Primary Foods:** Broom Snakeweed, Alfalfa, Globemallow, Threadleaf Groundsel - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Host plant:** [Broom Snakeweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broom-snakeweed) (*Gutierrezia sarothrae*) — Serves as a primary food source and shelter for both nymphs and adults. - **Eaten by:** [Plains Garter Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plains-garter-snake) (*Thamnophis radix*) — Occasionally preys upon these grasshoppers in grassland habitats despite their warning coloration. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rainbow Grasshopper? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Rainbow Grasshopper? 2+ cm ### How much does Rainbow Grasshopper weigh? 0.001+ kg ### How long does Rainbow Grasshopper live? 1+ years ### How fast can Rainbow Grasshopper move? 5 km/h ### What does Rainbow Grasshopper eat? Feeds primarily on a variety of low-growing desert herbs, wildflowers, and native grasses, often targeting toxic host plants. ### Where is Rainbow Grasshopper usually found? Found in dry shortgrass prairies, desert shrublands, and rocky hillsides across western North America. ### How does Rainbow Grasshopper hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Clayton Public Schools Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayton-public-schools-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lyndon-b-johnson-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park - [Monument Rocks](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monument-rocks) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Metropolitan Park Bathhouse and Pool Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metropolitan-park-bathhouse-and-pool-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District [View all places to see Rainbow Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rainbow-grasshopper) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Rainbow Grasshopper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-grasshopper)