Spring Trig
Anaxipha vernalis
This record describes Anaxipha vernalis (species). Recorded family: Trigonidiidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Trigonidiidae (Trigs and Ground Crickets)
- Subfamily
- Trigonidiinae
- Genus
- Anaxipha (Brown Trigs)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Generally found within half a meter of the ground in open areas with vegetation dominated by tall grasses. Adults are often heard singing along roadsides and margins of marshes and are particularly difficult to capture (Walker and Funk 2014)
Geographic Range
Kansas east to the mid-atlantic states
Seasonal Activity
Within its range, vernalis is the earliest Anaxipha to mature and may be heard calling from early May through early August (Walker and Funk 2014)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: From vernalis, of springtime; for its season of adult occurrence
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Anaxipha vernalis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Orthoptera includes ~28,000 described species of grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Desert locusts can form swarms covering 460 square miles containing up to 80 million individuals per square kilometer.
Ecological role of the group
Grasshoppers and crickets are a primary food source for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Cricket farming is a growing industry - crickets require 12× less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein, using 2,000× less water.
Economic and practical significance of the group
A single large locust swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. The 2019-2021 East Africa locust crisis affected food security for 42 million people across multiple countries. Global crop losses from locusts can reach billions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, UN World Food Programme, research publications. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Spring Trig (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by metrioptera