Insect · GBIF taxon 1709142
Lichen Grasshopper
Trimerotropis saxatilisAlso known as Lichen Band-Winged Grasshopper
Lichen grasshoppers are masters of camouflage, sporting a speckled grey, black, and greenish pattern that mimics the crustose lichens on exposed rocky glades. When flushed, they unveil bright yellow hind wings with a dark crossband before dropping back onto rock faces where they instantly blend in. They inhabit sun-exposed sandstone and granite outcrops across central and eastern North America, feeding on lichens and glade vegetation.
CamouflageGlade SpecialistInsect
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Lichens
- Mosses
- Glade Forbs
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Spiders
ThreatsHabitat destruction, fire suppression leading to woody encroachment
HabitatsSandstone and granite glades, rocky outcrops, bluffs
Life span1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyAcrididae
- GenusTrimerotropis
- SpeciesTrimerotropis saxatilis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a grey-green speckled grasshopper blending seamlessly into lichen-covered sandstone or granite rock.
- Support conservation
- Watch your step on glade rock faces to avoid crushing cryptogamic crusts or hiding grasshoppers.
Responsible observation
- Spot the flight: Walk slowly across rock glades and watch for sudden short flights that reveal yellow hind wings.
- Listen for crepitation: Males produce faint crackling sounds with their wings during short aerial displays.
Image unavailableGenus Member 
Predator SchloughM / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Healthy Yards, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Healthy Yards · cc-by
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Mystic Meadows
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