Huachuca Grasshopper
Conalcaea huachucana
This record describes Conalcaea huachucana (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very similar to Barytettix , but the half and half color pattern of the tiny wings is distinctive in Conalcaea . Nymphs of the two genera are more difficult to distinguish, and habitat is often the best guide. Distinction from other short-winged species it may occur with can be made by noting the lengthwise half and half color pattern of the small oval tegmina (front wings), this is commonly black and white, particularly in males. Hind tibiae are usually red or reddish. There is usually a pale middorsal stripe on the abdomen (sometimes on thorax and head too). Build is stockier than most other similar species which co-occur. Pronotum is emarginate (concave-angled) or sometimes almost straight at rear margin (in most related species it is convex and rounded or angled), and the top of the pronotum is distinctly wider at rear than at front with principal sulcus (cross groove that is furthest back) cutting middle roughly 2/3 the distance from front edge to back edge.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Conalcaeini
- Genus
- Conalcaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
mostly associated with Pine and Oak in wooded or scrub areas in mountains above about 6000 ft.
Geographic Range
mountains of southwest New Mexico, southeast and central Arizona (south and east from Yavapai and Gila Counties), and adjacent northern Mexico
Seasonal Activity
eggs hatch mostly in spring with adults in summer and until frost
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Conalcaea huachucana. 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 Huachuca Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Robin McLeod , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Huachuca Grasshopper
What is Huachuca Grasshopper?
Huachuca Grasshopper (Conalcaea huachucana) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Huachuca Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | mostly associated with Pine and Oak in wooded or scrub areas in mountains above about 6000 ft. |
| Range | mountains of southwest New Mexico, southeast and central Arizona (south and east from Yavapai and Gila Counties), and adjacent northern Mexico |
When is Huachuca Grasshopper active?
Huachuca Grasshopper: seasonal activity - eggs hatch mostly in spring with adults in summer and until frost.