Calabrian Gold Grasshopper
Chrysochraon bey-bienkoi
The Calabrian Gold Grasshopper is a striking orthopteran species endemic to the mountainous regions of Calabria, southern Italy, distinguished by its brilliant golden-yellow coloration with metallic bronze markings along its forewings. This medium-sized grasshopper plays a crucial role in its alpine ecosystem as both a primary consumer of endemic grasses and herbs, and as prey for specialized montane predators including endemic spiders and birds.
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Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Orthoptera
Family
Acrididae
Genus
Chrysochraon
Calabrian Gold Grasshopper belongs to the family Acrididae, order Orthoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Calabrian Gold Grasshopper is a striking orthopteran species endemic to the mountainous regions of Calabria, southern Italy, distinguished by its brilliant golden-yellow coloration with metallic bronze markings along its forewings. This medium-sized grasshopper plays a crucial role in its alpine ecosystem as both a primary consumer of endemic grasses and herbs, and as prey for specialized montane predators including endemic spiders and birds.
The Calabrian Gold Grasshopper faces severe threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification and urban development in its extremely limited range in southern Italy. Climate change poses additional risks to this endemic species, which is restricted to specific microhabitats with particular vegetation and climatic requirements.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This grasshopper inhabits high-altitude meadows and grasslands between 1,200-2,000 meters elevation in the Calabrian Apennines, particularly favoring south-facing slopes with sparse vegetation and rocky outcrops. It requires areas with specific endemic grass species and maintains close association with calcareous soils that support its preferred host plants.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Calabrian Gold Grasshopper faces severe threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification and urban development in its extremely limited range in southern Italy. Climate change poses additional risks to this endemic species, which is restricted to specific microhabitats with particular vegetation and climatic requirements.
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Fire regime changes
Overgrazing by livestock
Found in 1 Country
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Calabrian Gold Grasshopper (Chrysochraon bey-bienkoi). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/calabrian-gold-grasshopper