Lively Mermiria
Mermiria picta
This record describes Mermiria picta (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
body long, narrow, greenish or brownish; face strongly slanted; antennae sword-shaped; dark middorsal line from front of head to rear of pronotum; distinct lateral ridges on dorsal surface of pronotum (a diagnostic characteristic); dark brown or black stripe extends from rear margin of eye onto base of forewing; basal region of forewing lacks narrow white streak (a distinguishing characteristic); hind tibiae long, thin, reddish
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Gomphocerinae
- Genus
- Mermiria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
tall grasses, included wooded areas, usually in drier habitats than M. intertexta
Geographic Range
southeastern United States, north to Virginia and South Dakota, west to Arizona, south into Mexico
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Mermiria picta. 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 Lively Mermiria (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Lively Mermiria
What is Lively Mermiria?
Lively Mermiria (Mermiria picta) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Lively Mermiria?
male body length 28-41 mm; female 41-57 mm
How do you identify Lively Mermiria?
body long, narrow, greenish or brownish; face strongly slanted; antennae sword-shaped; dark middorsal line from front of head to rear of pronotum; distinct lateral ridges on dorsal surface of pronotum (a diagnostic characteristic); dark brown or black stripe extends from rear margin of eye onto base of forewing; basal region of forewing lacks narrow white streak (a distinguishing characteristic); hind tibiae long, thin, reddish
Where is Lively Mermiria found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | tall grasses, included wooded areas, usually in drier habitats than M. intertexta |
| Range | southeastern United States, north to Virginia and South Dakota, west to Arizona, south into Mexico |