Short-winged Pygmy Grasshopper
Paratettix brevipennis
This record describes Paratettix brevipennis (species). Recorded family: Tetrigidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hind femur is very robust (between 2 and 2.5 as long as wide). Fastigium wider than width of eye as seen from above. Middle femur not lobed (may be somewhat irrigular).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Tetrigidae (Pygmy Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Tetriginae
- Genus
- Paratettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
central Texas
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The name is a bit of a misnomer, because long-winged individuals occur as well.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Paratettix brevipennis. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Short-winged Pygmy Grasshopper
What is Short-winged Pygmy Grasshopper?
Short-winged Pygmy Grasshopper (Paratettix brevipennis) is a species in the family Tetrigidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Short-winged Pygmy Grasshopper?
Hind femur is very robust (between 2 and 2.5 as long as wide). Fastigium wider than width of eye as seen from above. Middle femur not lobed (may be somewhat irrigular).
Where is Short-winged Pygmy Grasshopper found?
Range: central Texas