Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper
Neotridactylus archboldi
This record describes Neotridactylus archboldi (species). Recorded family: Tridactylidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Flightless; distinctive shiny black coloration with red hind knees. Can be found by visiting open sand scrub areas within a few hours of a rain, and carefully digging up the raised burrows.
Wikipedia reference for Neotridactylus archboldi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotridactylus_archboldi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Tridactylidae (Pygmy Mole 'Crickets')
- Genus
- Neotridactylus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Exposed patches of bare sand in Florida scrub and sandhill habitats.
Geographic Range
FL: Lake Wales Ridge: Highlands, Lake, and Polk Counties Similar insects have been found on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Bombing Range Ridge, Mt. Dora Ridge, Trail Ridge, and in panhandle scrub. These might simply be disjunct populations of N. archboldi , or they might be cryptic species. Given the high endemicity of Florida scrub arthropods (especially noticeable in flightless Melanoplus grasshoppers and Geopsammodius scarab beetles), these flightless tridactylids may also have speciated.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Feeds on a layer of filamentous algae that grows a few millimeters below the surface of the sand in open areas of Florida scrub habitat
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: archboldi : patronym for the Archbold Biological Station .
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Neotridactylus archboldi. 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 Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper
What is Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper?
Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper (Neotridactylus archboldi) is a species in the family Tridactylidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper?
Flightless; distinctive shiny black coloration with red hind knees.
Where is Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Exposed patches of bare sand in Florida scrub and sandhill habitats. |
| Range | FL: Lake Wales Ridge: Highlands, Lake, and Polk Counties Similar insects have been found on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Bombing Range Ridge, Mt. Dora Ridge, Trail Ridge, and in panhandle scrub. These might simply be disjunct populations of N. archboldi , or they might be cryptic species. Given the high endemicity of Florida scrub arthropods (especially noticeable in flightless Melanoplus grasshoppers and Geopsammodius scarab beetles), these flightless tridactylids may also have speciated. |
What does Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Archbold Pygmy Mole Grasshopper includes Feeds on a layer of filamentous algae that grows a few millimeters below the surface of the sand in open areas of Florida scrub habitat.