About Trimerotropis pallidipennis (Burmeister, 1838)
The pallid-winged grasshopper, with the scientific name Trimerotropis pallidipennis, is a common member of the grasshopper family Acrididae. It is native to desert regions of western North America and South America, with a range extending from British Columbia in the north to Argentina in the south. This species is most active during the summer months. Its pale, mottled body coloration provides effective camouflage, making it hard to spot against surfaces like granite, which is commonly found in the gravel of dry river beds. Adult pallid-winged grasshoppers grow to a length of 37 millimetres, which equals 1.5 inches. The species' behavior is heavily tied to environmental temperature: foraging activity occurs when temperatures range from 24 to 32 °C (75 to 90 °F), while mating takes place at temperatures between 30 and 40 °C (86 to 104 °F). Local populations of pallid-winged grasshoppers occasionally grow large enough to become damaging. Between 1952 and 1980, six outbreaks of this species were recorded in Arizona, and only one of these outbreaks lasted longer than one year.
