Rattling Grasshopper
Circotettix crotalum
This record describes Circotettix crotalum (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Mostly this is a rather plain looking deep brown to blackish insect, but on light colored rocks it may be lighter in color with more prominent mottling. Confusion with other Circotettix species is not an issue though, as this is the only Circotettix species known from the Spring Mountains, where it occurs as an isolated representative of the genus. It is very like C. shastanus but with the venation of the wings as in C. undulatus & C. rabula . Morphological it seems identical to C. undulatus , and with wings folded is indistinguishable. Hind wing coloring is like C. rabula & coconino . Trimerotropis verruculata suffusa is similar, and can often be found in the same areas, though it tends to more strongly associated with wooded areas and less tied to exposed rocky areas. It is somewhat smaller and more slender, with the dark band across the hind wings more even in shape (main radial veins crossing it usually dark and not interrupting light streaks as in C. crotalum ), and with dark suffusion usually reaching to tip of wing (tip clear in C. crotalum . Radial veins in hind wing of C. crotalum are distinctly thicker. T. verruculata is not as loud in flight, but still can make quite a racket. Behaves much the same as C. rabula and C. undulatus , but the high noisy aerial displays are less often observed.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Trimerotropini
- Genus
- Circotettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Exposed rocky areas, mostly on steep slopes and along sides of washes, usually loosely associated with Pine forest, but extending somewhat below that forest into scrub and open woodland areas.
Geographic Range
Spring Mountains, Clark County Nevada. It has not been recorded from nearby high mountain ranges in the Mojave region, but should be looked for in places such as the Clark and Providence Mountains.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Overwinters as eggs. Adults late spring or early summer to freezing weather.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Circotettix crotalum. 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 Rattling Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Rattling Grasshopper
What is Rattling Grasshopper?
Rattling Grasshopper (Circotettix crotalum) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Rattling Grasshopper?
both males and females about 34-40 mm
How do you identify Rattling Grasshopper?
Mostly this is a rather plain looking deep brown to blackish insect, but on light colored rocks it may be lighter in color with more prominent mottling. Confusion with other Circotettix species is not an issue though, as this is the only Circotettix species known from the Spring Mountains, where it occurs as an isolated representative of the genus. It is very like C. shastanus but with the venation of the wings as in C. undulatus & C. rabula . Morphological it seems identical to C. undulatus , and with wings folded is indistinguishable. Hind wing coloring is like C. rabula & coconino . Trimerotropis verruculata suffusa is similar, and can often be found in the same areas, though it tends to more strongly associated with wooded areas and less tied to exposed rocky areas. It is somewhat smaller and more slender, with the dark band across the hind wings more even in shape (main radial veins crossing it usually dark and not interrupting light streaks as in C. crotalum ), and with dark suffusion usually reaching to tip of wing (tip clear in C. crotalum . Radial veins in hind wing of C. crotalum are distinctly thicker. T. verruculata is not as loud in flight, but still can make quite a racket.
Where is Rattling Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Exposed rocky areas, mostly on steep slopes and along sides of washes, usually loosely associated with Pine forest, but extending somewhat below that forest into scrub and open woodland areas. |
| Range | Spring Mountains, Clark County Nevada. It has not been recorded from nearby high mountain ranges in the Mojave region, but should be looked for in places such as the Clark and Providence Mountains. |
What is the life cycle of a Rattling Grasshopper?
Overwinters as eggs. Adults late spring or early summer to freezing weather.