An incredible amount of grasshopper species live in Arizona!

Trying to list them all would be impossible. 🙂

So below, you will find the most common and abundant insects found in the order Orthoptera. This includes not only grasshoppers but also crickets and katydids.

5 Grasshoppers in Arizona:

#1. Carolina Grasshopper

Dissosteira carolina

Adults grow from 1.2-2.3 in (32–58 mm) in length.
Their coloring is a light brown to tan or gray, which allows them to hide in their environment.
They have large wings that flap dramatically in flight, and people often confuse them with butterflies.

Carolina Grasshoppers are found all over Arizona.

Their range includes many climates, and their diet varies depending on their habitat. For example, in pastureland or open fields, they primarily eat grasses. However, these grasshoppers will consume weeds and other less desirable plants in less fertile areas.

These grasshoppers are diurnal, meaning they are primarily active during the day and rest at night. However, don’t be surprised to find one near a light source in the late evening. They’re very attracted to lights! They live mostly on the ground and rarely climb or fly into trees.

#2. Tropical House Cricket

Gryllodes sigillatus

Adults are 0.51–0.71 in (13–18 mm) long.
They are light brown or yellowish-tan with two thick black bands around the body.
Their antennae and legs are long, and their wings are short.

Tropical House Crickets might be the most recognizable species of cricket. These insects are often sold as live pet food for reptiles, amphibians, and birds. They are easy to care for and nutritious for most insect-eating pets.

You’re likely to find these crickets in warm, humid, tropical climates in the wild. They don’t cause agricultural damage, so they aren’t considered a pest, although the males’ loud singing can be disruptive at night!

#3. Greater Anglewing

Microcentrum rhombifolium

Adults are 2.0–2.6 in (50–65 mm) long.
They are bright green to yellowish.
Their broad and leaf-like wings come to a sharp peak above their bodies.

You can find Greater Anglewings among shrubs and trees in Arizona, but picking them out can be difficult! These katydids are masters of camouflage, with wings that mimic leaves and coloring that helps them blend right in.

Adults are active in late summer through fall. Listen for their call, which is a series of clicks in an even pattern, repeated 10-20 times in a row.

#4. Pallid-winged Grasshopper

Trimerotropis pallidipennis

Adults may grow to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long.
Adults are variable in color but are primarily gray or gray-brown with dark bands on their forewings and yellowish hind tibiae.
Their hind wings are long, narrow, and pale yellow with greenish or bluish at the base and a narrow dark band.

These drably colored grasshoppers typically live in deserts or dry areas in Arizona.

They like areas with sparse vegetation and bare ground, such as roadsides, vacant lots, and fields. Their coloring helps them blend in with the ground.

Some of the Pallid-winged Grasshopper’s behavior is dependent on the temperature. They tend to spend time foraging when temperatures are 75–90 °F (24–32 °C) and breed when they are 86–104 °F (30–40 °C).

Occasionally, Pallid-winged Grasshoppers will have localized population booms that can cause severe damage to vegetation and crops. These outbreaks may last a year or two.

Rainfall is a major factor in the survival of Pallid-winged Grasshopper eggs. The large outbreaks of these grasshoppers are associated with above-average rainfall levels in the previous fall, winter, and early spring.

#5. Gray Bird Grasshopper

Schistocerca nitens

Adults are typically 1.6 to 2.8 inches (4 to 7 cm) long.
Adults have variable coloration but are usually patches of gray and brown.
They have dark bars on the tops of their hind femora.

Also called Vagrant Grasshoppers, these large insects are skilled travelers. They look a bit clumsy, but looks can be deceiving. These grasshoppers are strong fliers, sometimes migrating hundreds of miles.

Gray Bird Grasshoppers aren’t tied to moist habitats in Arizona like many other grasshopper species. You’ll find them in mountainous areas, deserts, and woodlands, and they often congregate around bright outdoor lights at night.

These grasshoppers adapt to different habitats by feeding on various plants, including crops and ornamental plants. The Gray Bird Grasshopper can be a troublesome pest, especially outside its native range. For example, in 2004, a swarm on the Hawaiian island Nihoa wiped out 90% of the vegetation!

Did you like learning about the grasshoppers that live in Arizona?

Check out these ID guides that focus specifically on different insects and arachnids in Arizona.

Do you need additional help identifying grasshoppers in Arizona?

If so, check out this excellent ID guide!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects of North America

5 Grasshopper Species found in Arizona!