Alkali Grasshopper
Anconia integra
This record describes Anconia integra (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dull grayish, brownish, or green, often with small darker spotting and often with a pale X on the back of the pronotum. Slender in form with pronotum noticeably wide at the back, narrow in front, with hind angle above rounded, with no prominent ridges on top (median carina is present but weak); head small with relatively large eyes; legs long and very slender, with two to four dark spots on the top of the hind femur; wings clear, usually faintly bluish toward base. Males are much smaller than females. Spaniacris is similar in appearance, but with eyes even larger, legs even longer and more slender, and with a prominent pattern of pale markings tending to stripes. Other similar species that might be found with and confused with A. integra are considerably smaller; or, have the thorax less narrowed toward the front with the head proportionately larger, and mostly with hind wings more strongly pigmented, often with a dark cross band, and often broader.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Trimerotropini
- Genus
- Anconia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Varied, but usually alkaline and rather barren with perennial (usually shrubby) species of Chenopodiaceae.
Geographic Range
Mostly in Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. In southern California (mostly desert regions; not along coast), southern Nevada, western Arizona, and sw. corner of Utah.
Seasonal Activity
Apparently overwinters as nymphs with adults in late winter/spring and a second brood in summer and autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Apparently restricted to plants of the family Chenopodiaceae, including Atriplex, Suedia , and probably others.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Anconia integra. 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 Alkali Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Alkali Grasshopper
What is Alkali Grasshopper?
Alkali Grasshopper (Anconia integra) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Alkali Grasshopper?
Dull grayish, brownish, or green, often with small darker spotting and often with a pale X on the back of the pronotum. Slender in form with pronotum noticeably wide at the back, narrow in front, with hind angle above rounded, with no prominent ridges on top (median carina is present but weak); head small with relatively large eyes; legs long and very slender, with two to four dark spots on the top of the hind femur; wings clear, usually faintly bluish toward base. Males are much smaller than females. Spaniacris is similar in appearance, but with eyes even larger, legs even longer and more slender, and with a prominent pattern of pale markings tending to stripes. Other similar species that might be found with and confused with A. integra are considerably smaller; or, have the thorax less narrowed toward the front with the head proportionately larger, and mostly with hind wings more strongly pigmented, often with a dark cross band, and often broader.
Where is Alkali Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Varied, but usually alkaline and rather barren with perennial (usually shrubby) species of Chenopodiaceae. |
| Range | Mostly in Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. In southern California (mostly desert regions; not along coast), southern Nevada, western Arizona, and sw. corner of Utah. |
What does Alkali Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Alkali Grasshopper includes Apparently restricted to plants of the family Chenopodiaceae, including Atriplex, Suedia , and probably others..
When is Alkali Grasshopper active?
Alkali Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Apparently overwinters as nymphs with adults in late winter/spring and a second brood in summer and autumn..