Floritettix nigropicta
This record describes Floritettix nigropicta (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult males: body grey with black markings and no pale median stripe; green legs and blue hind tibiae. Females difficult to distinguish from those of other Floritettix spp. except by association with males.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Melanoplini
- Genus
- Floritettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Florida scrub (including yellow sand scrub) and scrubby flatwoods (Deyrup & Carrel 2012)
Geographic Range
Central FL: mostly on the Lake Wales Ridge. Hebard's type was from 'Childs, DeSoto County'; however the location where that town once was is actually in Highlands county. All recent specimens are from Highlands and Polk counties.
Seasonal Activity
Adults occur throughout most of the year but are most abundant in fall through early winter (Deyrup & Carrel 2012)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Associated with low scrubby oaks
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Floritettix nigropicta. 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 Floritettix nigropicta (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Floritettix nigropicta
What is Floritettix nigropicta?
Floritettix nigropicta is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Floritettix nigropicta?
Adult males: body grey with black markings and no pale median stripe; green legs and blue hind tibiae. Females difficult to distinguish from those of other Floritettix spp. except by association with males.
Where is Floritettix nigropicta found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Florida scrub (including yellow sand scrub) and scrubby flatwoods (Deyrup & Carrel 2012) |
| Range | Central FL: mostly on the Lake Wales Ridge. Hebard's type was from 'Childs, DeSoto County'; however the location where that town once was is actually in Highlands county. All recent specimens are from Highlands and Polk counties. |
What does Floritettix nigropicta eat?
The diet of the Floritettix nigropicta includes Associated with low scrubby oaks.
When is Floritettix nigropicta active?
Floritettix nigropicta: seasonal activity - Adults occur throughout most of the year but are most abundant in fall through early winter (Deyrup & Carrel 2012).