Black-striped Desert Grasshopper
Netrosoma nigropleura
This record describes Netrosoma nigropleura (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Small, wingless, with rear margin of pronotum emarginate. Males dark brown on whitish in color; appearing nearly black with due to dark wide stripe from eye onto base of abdomen; with pale yellowish white to off-white markings on face, along lower edge of pronotum, and as a pale stripe down middle of back; dark color reduced beyond base of abdomen, with apical half more pale than dark. Underside of body pale. Antennae blackish Hind femora brownish with pale diagonal marks (sometimes faint). Hind tibiae red. Females larger and stockier than males, entirely brown to violet gray with (usually faint) darker stripe curving down and back across sides of pronotum from eyes, faint dark diagonal bars on outer hind femur, and red hind tibiae. Males are not likely to be confused with any other species. Females are rather like some short-winged female Melanoplus except wings are entirely lacking.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Melanoplini
- Genus
- Netrosoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gravelly slopes in desert.
Geographic Range
Chihuahuan Desert of northeastern Mexico. Enters Texas in the Big Bend Region in Presidio and Brewster Counties.
Seasonal Activity
adults recorded from July to October
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Netrosoma nigropleura. 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 Black-striped Desert Grasshopper (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Black-striped Desert Grasshopper
What is Black-striped Desert Grasshopper?
Black-striped Desert Grasshopper (Netrosoma nigropleura) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How big is Black-striped Desert Grasshopper?
Small males about 10-13 mm females about 20-25 mm
How do you identify Black-striped Desert Grasshopper?
Small, wingless, with rear margin of pronotum emarginate. Males dark brown on whitish in color; appearing nearly black with due to dark wide stripe from eye onto base of abdomen; with pale yellowish white to off-white markings on face, along lower edge of pronotum, and as a pale stripe down middle of back; dark color reduced beyond base of abdomen, with apical half more pale than dark. Underside of body pale. Antennae blackish Hind femora brownish with pale diagonal marks (sometimes faint). Hind tibiae red. Females larger and stockier than males, entirely brown to violet gray with (usually faint) darker stripe curving down and back across sides of pronotum from eyes, faint dark diagonal bars on outer hind femur, and red hind tibiae. Males are not likely to be confused with any other species. Females are rather like some short-winged female Melanoplus except wings are entirely lacking.
Where is Black-striped Desert Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Gravelly slopes in desert. |
| Range | Chihuahuan Desert of northeastern Mexico. Enters Texas in the Big Bend Region in Presidio and Brewster Counties. |
When is Black-striped Desert Grasshopper active?
Black-striped Desert Grasshopper: seasonal activity - adults recorded from July to October.