Little Buzzer Grasshopper
Microtes occidentalis
This record describes Microtes occidentalis (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Small, stocky (especially females), wings moderately short (but exceeding tip of hind femora significantly); hairy, especially sides and below; pale, speckled to match sand, with two or three dark spots or bars in sides of folded wings. Pronotal crest cut through once, but often notched again in front of that. Hind tibiae yellowish, grayish, or bluish, with spurs near tip not long and slender, but usually distinctly shorter than the basal segment of the tarsi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Trimerotropini
- Genus
- Microtes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
coastal dunes
Geographic Range
Santa Barbara County north to Marin (perhaps Sonoma) County, California.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as eggs, with adults late May through October or perhaps later.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Microtes occidentalis. 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 Buzzer Grasshopper (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Chatfield-Taylor; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Buzzer Grasshopper
What is Little Buzzer Grasshopper?
Little Buzzer Grasshopper (Microtes occidentalis) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Little Buzzer Grasshopper?
About 17 to 26 mm long (males smaller than females).
How do you identify Little Buzzer Grasshopper?
Small, stocky (especially females), wings moderately short (but exceeding tip of hind femora significantly); hairy, especially sides and below; pale, speckled to match sand, with two or three dark spots or bars in sides of folded wings. Pronotal crest cut through once, but often notched again in front of that. Hind tibiae yellowish, grayish, or bluish, with spurs near tip not long and slender, but usually distinctly shorter than the basal segment of the tarsi.
Where is Little Buzzer Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coastal dunes |
| Range | Santa Barbara County north to Marin (perhaps Sonoma) County, California. |
When is Little Buzzer Grasshopper active?
Little Buzzer Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Overwinters as eggs, with adults late May through October or perhaps later..