Mestobregma impexum
This record describes Mestobregma impexum (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Differs from M. plattei in larger somewhat rounder head; frontal costa strongly narrowed just above antennae; fastigium more strongly closed off and separate from frontal costa at front; tegmina with dark bands often tending to cross over top (reduced but usually present) as viewed with wings folded; inner face of hind femur usually pale to dark with two pale cross bands (usually dark with one pale cross band in M. plattei ; and hind wing less consistently with a dark tip. These differences all tend to break down in southern Utah, but most populations can be called one or the other. Probably a western variant of Mestobregma plattei with which it seems to intergrade in southern Utah.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Psinidiini
- Genus
- Mestobregma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, and California south of Tahoe and east of Sierra Nevada.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Mestobregma impexum. 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 Mestobregma impexum (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Mestobregma impexum
What is Mestobregma impexum?
Mestobregma impexum is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Mestobregma impexum?
Differs from M. plattei in larger somewhat rounder head; frontal costa strongly narrowed just above antennae; fastigium more strongly closed off and separate from frontal costa at front; tegmina with dark bands often tending to cross over top (reduced but usually present) as viewed with wings folded; inner face of hind femur usually pale to dark with two pale cross bands (usually dark with one pale cross band in M. plattei ; and hind wing less consistently with a dark tip. These differences all tend to break down in southern Utah, but most populations can be called one or the other.
Where is Mestobregma impexum found?
Range: Southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, and California south of Tahoe and east of Sierra Nevada.