Ball's Little Shieldback
Decticita balli
This record describes Decticita balli (species). Recorded family: Tettigoniidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished from other species in genus by distribution and presence of strong lateral carinae on pronotum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Ensifera
- Family
- Tettigoniidae (Katydids)
- Subfamily
- Tettigoniinae
- Genus
- Decticita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California west of Sierras between San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Listed as grasses, with some carnivorous tendencies, especially in nymphs.
Life History
Eggs hatch late winter, early spring. Adults spring into early summer.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Decticita balli. 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 Ball's Little Shieldback (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Ball's Little Shieldback
What is Ball's Little Shieldback?
Ball's Little Shieldback (Decticita balli) is a species in the family Tettigoniidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Ball's Little Shieldback?
Distinguished from other species in genus by distribution and presence of strong lateral carinae on pronotum.
Where is Ball's Little Shieldback found?
Range: California west of Sierras between San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles.
What does Ball's Little Shieldback eat?
The diet of the Ball's Little Shieldback includes Listed as grasses, with some carnivorous tendencies, especially in nymphs..
What is the life cycle of a Ball's Little Shieldback?
Eggs hatch late winter, early spring. Adults spring into early summer.