Cascade Timberline Grasshopper
Prumnacris rainierensis
This record describes Prumnacris rainierensis (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very similar and probably very closely related to Buckellacris ; however, with tiny elongate tegmina (front wings) present. If tegmina are missing, it will key out to B. nuda , from which it differs by occuring in the Cascades, and in having the upper surface of the body a lighter more even color (dorso-lateral yellow stripes present, but often hardly visible). Differs from Asemoplus montanus in less compact shape; males posessing small but distinct triangular furculae; male cerci thicker, not curving back and down apically; different color pattern, with dark stripe regular in shape and continuous (not irregular and broken) along top sides of pronotum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Melanoplinae
- Tribe
- Podismini
- Genus
- Prumnacris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"Alpine Meadows"
Geographic Range
Near timberline in Oregon and Washington Cascades, perhaps into southern British Columbia.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Said to be associated with Lupinus (as food?). Caudell described them as numerous in Paradise Valley, where they were destroying grass and small plants.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Prumnacris rainierensis. 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 Cascade Timberline Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Cascade Timberline Grasshopper
What is Cascade Timberline Grasshopper?
Cascade Timberline Grasshopper (Prumnacris rainierensis) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Cascade Timberline Grasshopper?
Very similar and probably very closely related to Buckellacris ; however, with tiny elongate tegmina (front wings) present. If tegmina are missing, it will key out to B. nuda , from which it differs by occuring in the Cascades, and in having the upper surface of the body a lighter more even color (dorso-lateral yellow stripes present, but often hardly visible). Differs from Asemoplus montanus in less compact shape; males posessing small but distinct triangular furculae; male cerci thicker, not curving back and down apically; different color pattern, with dark stripe regular in shape and continuous (not irregular and broken) along top sides of pronotum.
Where is Cascade Timberline Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Alpine Meadows |
| Range | Near timberline in Oregon and Washington Cascades, perhaps into southern British Columbia. |
What does Cascade Timberline Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the Cascade Timberline Grasshopper includes Said to be associated with Lupinus (as food?). Caudell described them as numerous in Paradise Valley, where they were destroying grass and small plants..