Clearwinged Grasshopper – Camnula pellucida

Clearwinged Grasshopper   Scientific Name:  Camnula pellucida Common Name: Clearwinged grasshopper, warrior grasshopper Appearance:  Clearwinged grasshoppers are yellow or brown giant grasshoppers, ranging in size from 21 to 32 mm. Their wings have dark spots and two stripes that run throughout the centre of the forewings. The hind wings are clear. Their heads also have a deep black band on their side, helping in their identification. Its larva is black in colour with white banding on the thorax. Host Plants or Food: Clearwinged grasshopper mainly feeds on grasses, including cereal, grains such as wheat, barley, Kentucky bluegrass, canola, and pulses. Territory: Throughout North America Mode of Damage:  They may damage the plants by chewing on the leaves or damaging the stems and twigs. The latter is especially harmful since it severs the ability of the plant to overcome the damage. Habits and Life History: Clearwinged grasshopper is found in grassy fields and other open spaces with short, dry grasses. They prefer feeding in groups and migrating to fields in swarms. Female grasshoppers lay eggs in pods with eight eggs each, laying a total of 178 eggs at a time. The eggs overwinter during the colder season and hatch in the spring. Since half the development is complete in the eggs, they do not require much time to mature. The nymph typically goes through 5 instars before becoming an adult. They produce only one generation per year.