Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper
Eritettix abortivus
This record describes Eritettix abortivus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to Eritettix simplex , except smaller in body size, with shorter wings. The color form with solid dark bands along sides of thorax usually has these bands much wider than in that species. Similar to Eritettix simplex , except with shorter wings. The color form with solid dark bands along sides of thorax usually has these bands much wider than in that species. Also resembles short-winged Psoloessa (especially when viewed from above in habitat), but antennae are thicker, lateral faveolae above antennae are nearly invisible from above, and in profile face is more slanting and head appears more nearly pointed. Also, short-winged species of Psoloessa are only found further south in Mexico.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Eritettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grasslands; often very abundant in planted pastures and short weedy regrowth of grasses and herbs in old fields. In native grasslands often most abundant near the edges of patches of course-leaved grasses that grow somewhat taller (+/- knee high) than the short grasses around them.
Geographic Range
Much of Texas east from Pecos River, into se. New Mexico, s. Oklahoma, and ne. Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: mostly grasses
Life History
Eggs laid in soil in spring, hatch in summer/autumn. Overwinters as nymphs and sometimes adults. Adults autumn thru spring (mostly early sring), and mostly gone by sometime in May or early June.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Eritettix abortivus. 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 Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper
What is Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper?
Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper (Eritettix abortivus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper?
10-15 mm males 18-22 mm females
How do you identify Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper?
Similar to Eritettix simplex , except smaller in body size, with shorter wings. The color form with solid dark bands along sides of thorax usually has these bands much wider than in that species.
Where is Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Grasslands; often very abundant in planted pastures and short weedy regrowth of grasses and herbs in old fields. In native grasslands often most abundant near the edges of patches of course-leaved grasses that grow somewhat taller (+/- knee high) than the short grasses around them. |
| Range | Much of Texas east from Pecos River, into se. New Mexico, s. Oklahoma, and ne. Mexico. |
What does Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper includes mostly grasses.
What is the life cycle of a Texas Short-winged Slant-face Grasshopper?
Eggs laid in soil in spring, hatch in summer/autumn. Overwinters as nymphs and sometimes adults. Adults autumn thru spring (mostly early sring), and mostly gone by sometime in May or early June.