Saussure's Desert Grasshopper
Derotmema saussureanum
This record describes Derotmema saussureanum (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Small (mostly between about 14 and 30 mm, or roughly an inch long). |
| Head | Head large, pronotum narrower than head, roughened by tubercles on top, and with hind margin distinctly angled. |
| Wings | Wings pale yellow, greenish, or blue with a curved dark band and spur (other Derotmema species usually have yellow wings, never have greenish or blue, but some may have orange or red). Commonly contrastingly marked pale with white and black, and often with a white stripe along the side of the folded tegmina (often, individuals of most other Derotmema species are rather uncontrasted dull brownish). |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Psinidiini
- Genus
- Derotmema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southern California south of the Transverse Ranges, southward to northern Baja California Sur.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Derotmema saussureanum. 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 Saussure's Desert Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Saussure's Desert Grasshopper
What is Saussure's Desert Grasshopper?
Saussure's Desert Grasshopper (Derotmema saussureanum) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Saussure's Desert Grasshopper?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Small (mostly between about 14 and 30 mm, or roughly an inch long). |
| Head | Head large, pronotum narrower than head, roughened by tubercles on top, and with hind margin distinctly angled. |
| Wings | Wings pale yellow, greenish, or blue with a curved dark band and spur (other Derotmema species usually have yellow wings, never have greenish or blue, but some may have orange or red). Commonly contrastingly marked pale with white and black, and often with a white stripe along the side of the folded tegmina (often, individuals of most other Derotmema species are rather uncontrasted dull brownish). |
Where is Saussure's Desert Grasshopper found?
Range: southern California south of the Transverse Ranges, southward to northern Baja California Sur.