AUGUST 2025
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Violet-winged Grasshopper (Tropidacris collaris)
Violet-winged Grasshopper (Tropidacris collaris)
Jimena Ham
Such strange, captivating species of grasshopper! If you were to think of a grasshopper you would imagine one that is a bright green color but not, this one. This has a very eye-catching color: dark red color and yellowish stripe. Before doing this article, I didn’t know such an interesting Grasshopper existed! Don’t be tricked by this eye-catching color, though! Once they reach adulthood, they change into the classic green grasshopper, we all know and love!
This insect's scientific name is Tropidacris collaris (Stoll, 1813) from the family Romaleidae. Its most common name is Violet-winged Grasshopper. As the names suggest, this grasshopper has gorgeous big wings with a wingspan of up to 178 mm—they are known as the biggest grasshoppers in the world! During their adulthood their wings can be seen from a range of colors like blue, violet, grayish and greenish.
Like the majority of grasshoppers, this specific species is known for being herbivorous. In addition, when there is a big group of these grasshoppers—just like the majority of grasshoppers—they become pests. They eat crops, wild plant life, trees grown in plantations and ornamental plants.
They tend to be found in a range of habitats from humid tropical rainforest and dry arid grasslands. They can be found throughout South America all the way to Central America—Pictures taken by Ms. Lucy Wynn was taken to school at the bus stop and outside the library!
Throughout their life, they moult* around five to six times before they fully reach adulthood. In each of these stages, this grasshopper looks very different:
Early Stage/Nymphs*: They are seen to have that signature red and black color.
Middle Stages: They start to grow at a rapid pace, and they begin to obtain new colors—yellow and white—aside from the black/dark red and yellow.
Subadult life Stage: During this time they are during their most attractive/unique look. From here they are one or a few months away from reaching adulthood and the hints of green are beginning to appear.
Adult Stage: At the end of their life, they become a green color and their wings are fully formed!
Adult Male: 5-7cm (2.0-2.8in) long
Adult Female: 8.5-10.5cm (3.3-4.1in) long
Cool Facts:
They are known to have a calm temperament. However, I would not advise them to handle them because they are presumed to be toxic—most of the time animals and insects with bright colors signify they are toxic.
“A researcher who tasted one noted that it was very bitter, similar to a monarch butterfly.” —I guess that's a way to find out… also crazy to think Monarch Butterflies are bitter…
“A grasshopper of this species was spotted landing on the arm of James Rodriguez, after he scored a goal during Colombia’s 1-2 loss to Brazil, at the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.”
Terminology:
Nymph: (noun) juvenile form of species that undergo incomplete metamorphosis.
Moult: (verb) to shed old feathers, hair or skin to make way for new growth.
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