Southern Protean Shieldback
Atlanticus pachymerus
This record describes Atlanticus pachymerus (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Some anatomic details of female Atlanticus pachymerus : pronotum subgenital plate Badly confused in literature with A. testaceus , but more southern in distribution; differing in males having shorter wings, shape of subgenital plate of females, and in having longer and thus apparently more slender legs. Badly confused in literature with A. testaceus , differing in males having shorter wings, shape of subgenital plate of females, and in having longer and thus apparently more slender legs.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Tettigoniinae
- Genus
- Atlanticus (Eastern Shieldbacks)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ozark/Ouachita region of eastern Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas eastward to North and South Carolina, also apparently west into se. Oklhoma and ne. Texas.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Atlanticus pachymerus. 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 Southern Protean Shieldback (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by cotinis
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Protean Shieldback
What is Southern Protean Shieldback?
Southern Protean Shieldback (Atlanticus pachymerus) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Southern Protean Shieldback?
Some anatomic details of female Atlanticus pachymerus : pronotum subgenital plate Badly confused in literature with A. testaceus , but more southern in distribution; differing in males having shorter wings, shape of subgenital plate of females, and in having longer and thus apparently more slender legs.
Where is Southern Protean Shieldback found?
Range: Ozark/Ouachita region of eastern Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas eastward to North and South Carolina, also apparently west into se. Oklhoma and ne. Texas.