Orthoptera of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):

View	Acrididae Members:	NC Records
Pardalophora phoenicoptera (Burmeister, 1838) - Orange-Winged Grasshopper

Taxonomy

Family: Acrididae	Subfamily: Oedopodinae	Tribe: Hippiscini	Synonym: Hippiscus apiculatus phoenicopterus
Comments: One of five species currently considered valid for this genus (Cigliano et al., accessed May, 2025). Two have been recorded in North Carolina, with phoenicoptera being the most common and widepread.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Capineira et al (2004)	Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images, iNaturalist, GBIF	Technical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Blatchley (1920); Otte (1982)
Comments: A medium-large, band-winged locust. Eyes are sharply bicolored; pale above and black below. The color of the head and body is variable, ranging from dark green, to reddish-brown, to tan, to clay-colored, to rarely whitish. The edges of the dorsal field of the tegmina are mottled centrally and bordered by pale streaks, which converge distally, forming a v-shaped mark. The lateral field is reticulated with white or gray and boldly spotted with black. The hindwings are red to orange, bordered with a black outer band. A distinctive bright blue shade is located on the inner surfaces of the hind femurs and the hind tibiae are orange. Hippiscus ocelote is similar in size, has similar protnotum features, and has a heavily spotted tegimina. The head of that species is larger and more bulbous than in Pardalophora and its body is more yellowish. The hindwings of that species are also typically yellowish, but can also be red, as is true in some specimens of phoenicoptera. This species, however, lacks the blue shading on the inner side of the hind femur that is found in phoenicoptera. Spharagemon marmorata is also similar in pattern, but differs in its coloration on the hind legs. The metazona is shorter, more obtusely angled, and lacks the tubercles present in Pardalophora
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 36-42 mm, males; 45-55 mm, females (Capineira et al., 2004)
Structural Features: The prothorax is somewhat tuberculate and has a low median ridge but lacks lateral carinae
Singing Behavior: Otte (1970) observed stridulation by males but did not observe any crepitating flights. Capineira et al. (2004) state, however, that crepitation may occur although they do not regard this species as a particularly noisy species.
Nymphal Stages and Development: Nymphs are recognizable by their rugose pronotum with a low median ridge. Nymphs of Hippiscus ocelote are similar but have much larger heads

Distribution in North Carolina


County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Adult Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The majority of our records come from dry, open, Longleaf-dominated sand ridges. We also have records from a number of other types of barrens, all with dry openings. Additionally, it can occur in other areas with low or sparse vegetation, including pastures, roadsides, powerlines, and other disturbed ruderal areas (Blatchley, 1920; Capineira et al., 2004).

Diet: Primarily herbivorous on grasses and forbs

Observation Methods: Can be flushed by walking through its habitat, although females apparently rely more on their camouflage and stick closer to the ground.

Abundance/Frequency: This species can be common but is usually seen only as scattered individuals

Adult Phenology: Adults are present as early as late May. There appears to be only a single brood per year, with observations concentrated in the summer.

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status: None

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: None

Comments: This species is widely distributed in North Carolina and can occur in a range of open to semi-open habitats. Consequently, it does not currently have a high priority for conservation in our state.

Image Gallery for Pardalophora phoenicoptera - Orange-Winged Grasshopper
	Recorded by: Steve Hall, Bruce Sorrie, Tom Howard, Carol Tingley Moore Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Meriel Goodwin, Gary Perlmutter, and Bruce Sorrie Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Meriel Goodwin, Gary Perlmutter, and Bruce Sorrie Richmond Co. Comment:	Recorded by: John Petranka Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. A. Anderson New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. A. Anderson New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. A. Anderson New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. Mickey Wilkes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen Carson McDowell Co. Comment: Observed specimen on Bryodesma rupestris/bare rock, incidental to botanical inventory. Watched it fly away after photographing it, saw orange wings with a black (or other dark color) margin.	Recorded by: Mark Shields Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Alicia Jackson Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Alicia Jackson Moore Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips North Carolina Co. Comment:	Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Recorded by: L. Amos, J. Caudle Vance Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: ASH Moore Co. Comment:	Recorded by: E. Corey, M. Ellis, and B. Strong Iredell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment:	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Harnett Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Granville Co. Comment:

Pardalophora phoenicoptera (Burmeister, 1838) - Orange-Winged Grasshopper

Image Gallery for Pardalophora phoenicoptera - Orange-Winged Grasshopper