Little Wingless Grasshopper
Gymnoscirtetes pusillus
This record describes Gymnoscirtetes pusillus (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Greenish yellow to tan in color, and bears a black and white lateral stripe running from each eye to about the midpoint of the abdomen or beyond. The adult is wingless. In males, the furcula is barely visible. The cerci taper gradually to a point, but the dorsal edge is almost straight. The tip of the subgenital plate is slightly extended into a tubercle about as high as it is wide.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Podismini
- Genus
- Gymnoscirtetes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wet areas of pine forests, where it inhabits the undergrowth, or adjacent to ponds.
Geographic Range
Found throughout Florida except for the southernmost areas, and is also known from Georgia.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: At Words by William Whitaker , "pusillus" translates to "tiny, very small".
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Gymnoscirtetes pusillus. 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 Little Wingless Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Wingless Grasshopper
What is Little Wingless Grasshopper?
Little Wingless Grasshopper (Gymnoscirtetes pusillus) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Little Wingless Grasshopper?
The males measure 12.5-15 mm in length and the females 17-22 mm.
How do you identify Little Wingless Grasshopper?
Greenish yellow to tan in color, and bears a black and white lateral stripe running from each eye to about the midpoint of the abdomen or beyond. The adult is wingless. In males, the furcula is barely visible. The cerci taper gradually to a point, but the dorsal edge is almost straight. The tip of the subgenital plate is slightly extended into a tubercle about as high as it is wide.
Where is Little Wingless Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Wet areas of pine forests, where it inhabits the undergrowth, or adjacent to ponds. |
| Range | Found throughout Florida except for the southernmost areas, and is also known from Georgia. |