Phaedrotettix palmeri
This record describes Phaedrotettix palmeri (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to P. dumicola (and P. concinnus ) but supposed to be smaller in size. Has the cerci narrowed toward the tip (but still wide, not pointed); the pallium is prominent but less developed; and the subgenital plate has a small tubercle at the upper rear margin (absent in P. dumicola ). Like P. dumicola the color pattern is apparently contrasting in both genders and the wings are oval, not linear.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Melanoplini
- Genus
- Phaedrotettix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: named for Edward Palmer (1829-1911), a botanist and naturalist.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Phaedrotettix palmeri. 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 Phaedrotettix palmeri (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Tyler Hedlund