Acrolophitus pulchellus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acrolophitus pulchellus |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acrolophitus
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| Species: |
pulchellus
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The Acrolophitus pulchellus is a special type of grasshopper that lives only in Idaho, United States. It's also known as the Idaho point-headed grasshopper because of its unique head shape. This grasshopper belongs to the family Acrididae, which includes many common grasshoppers.
What is the Idaho Point-Headed Grasshopper?
The Idaho point-headed grasshopper is a fascinating insect. Its scientific name, Acrolophitus pulchellus, helps scientists around the world know exactly which creature they are talking about. This grasshopper is considered "endemic" to Idaho. This means it is found naturally nowhere else in the world! It's a truly unique part of Idaho's wildlife.
Where Does This Grasshopper Live?
This special grasshopper has a very specific home. It mostly lives in just two areas of Idaho: Clark County and Custer County.
It prefers dry places with not too many plants, like shrublands. You can find it in the foothills, which are the lower parts of mountains, and also in floodplains, which are flat areas near rivers that can sometimes flood.
One of its favorite plants to eat is called stemless mock goldenweed. This plant is very important for the grasshopper's survival.
What Does the Idaho Point-Headed Grasshopper Look Like?
This grasshopper has a very distinctive look! It's mostly a bright "apple green" color mixed with white. Male grasshoppers often have a reddish color mixed in with their green.
It has a face that comes to a point, almost like a little cone. Its antennae, which are like feelers, are thin and look like threads. If you could get close enough, you'd see that its whole body is covered in soft hairs, giving it a fuzzy appearance.
When it comes to size, the males are usually about 22 millimeters long. That's a little less than an inch. The females are a bit bigger, averaging about 32 millimeters long, which is a bit more than an inch.
