White-lined Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca albolineata
This record describes Schistocerca albolineata (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to S. lineata and venusta , but more contrastingly marked, with bold dark bars on the hind femora. This species is dark olive green or brown to black, with contrasting pale yellowish markings, and bold contrasting markings on the hind femora, with the hind tibiae red to black. Occasionally individuals are green with fewer pale contrasting markings, but still have bold contrasting black markings on the hind femur. These closely resemble eastern S. obscura , but usually have red hind tibiae. Their appearance raises interesting questions about possible hybridization, and they are often misidentified. This is a member of the Alutacea Group, which includes several very closely related populations that are treated by some authors all as subspecies of S. alutacea , by other authors as all distinct species, but which are most often grouped as several subspecies included within a few species. S. albolineata is structurally very much like, and is closely related to S. obscura , but it is less inclined to green coloring, is more contrastingly marked, and occurs futher west.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Cyrtacanthacridinae
- Genus
- Schistocerca (Bird Grasshoppers)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mostly areas of broken terrain, usually on broadleaf trees and shrubs. Often associated with Oak or Mesquite.
Geographic Range
West Texas, southern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, southward into Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as eggs, hatches in spring or summer, with adults in summer and often well into autumn or early winter.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Presumably trees and shrubs it is usually found on.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Schistocerca albolineata. 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 White-lined Bird Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About White-lined Bird Grasshopper
What is White-lined Bird Grasshopper?
White-lined Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca albolineata) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify White-lined Bird Grasshopper?
Similar to S. lineata and venusta , but more contrastingly marked, with bold dark bars on the hind femora. This species is dark olive green or brown to black, with contrasting pale yellowish markings, and bold contrasting markings on the hind femora, with the hind tibiae red to black. Occasionally individuals are green with fewer pale contrasting markings, but still have bold contrasting black markings on the hind femur. These closely resemble eastern S. obscura , but usually have red hind tibiae. Their appearance raises interesting questions about possible hybridization, and they are often misidentified.
Where is White-lined Bird Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Mostly areas of broken terrain, usually on broadleaf trees and shrubs. Often associated with Oak or Mesquite. |
| Range | West Texas, southern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, southward into Mexico. |
What does White-lined Bird Grasshopper eat?
The diet of the White-lined Bird Grasshopper includes Presumably trees and shrubs it is usually found on..
When is White-lined Bird Grasshopper active?
White-lined Bird Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Overwinters as eggs, hatches in spring or summer, with adults in summer and often well into autumn or early winter..