Euthystira brachyptera

Euthystira brachyptera, the small gold grasshopper, is a species of grasshopper belonging to the family Acrididae.

Subspecies

Euthystira brachyptera brachyptera

''Euthystira brachyptera intermedia''

Description

Euthystira brachyptera can reach a length of with females tending to be larger. The body color is shiny yellow-green. The wings of the males reach the center of the abdomen, while the wings of the females are very small and often pink or purple. This species could be confused with Euchorthippus declivus and Chrysochraon dispar. It can be distinguished by means of the sharper top of head and the proportionally smaller eyes. Adults can be found from July to September.

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, in the eastern Palearctic realm, and in the Near East. It prefers mountain and subalpine meadows with tall grasses, heaths with rough vegetation and woodland clearings. It is quite common in calcareous grasslands with Brachypodium pinnatum.