Spanistic Desert Grasshopper
Spaniacris deserticola
This record describes Spaniacris deserticola (species). Recorded family: Romaleidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults with slender body, camouflage patterned with stripes of mostly browns and grays; long slender limbs; head with top held significantly higher than top of thorax, with eyes large and somewhat bulging; pronotum short, saddle-shaped, with no obvious carinae; hind wings narrow, unpatterned, slightly bluish/greenish.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Romaleidae (Lubber Grasshoppers)
- Genus
- Spaniacris (Spanistic Desert Grasshopper)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Sand areas with some gravel in Colorado Desert.
Geographic Range
southeast California, adjacent southwest Arizona and almost certainly into northeast Baja California Norte and northwest Sonora.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Spaniacris deserticola. 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 Spanistic Desert Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Spanistic Desert Grasshopper
What is Spanistic Desert Grasshopper?
Spanistic Desert Grasshopper (Spaniacris deserticola) is a species in the family Romaleidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Spanistic Desert Grasshopper?
Adults with slender body, camouflage patterned with stripes of mostly browns and grays; long slender limbs; head with top held significantly higher than top of thorax, with eyes large and somewhat bulging; pronotum short, saddle-shaped, with no obvious carinae; hind wings narrow, unpatterned, slightly bluish/greenish.
Where is Spanistic Desert Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Sand areas with some gravel in Colorado Desert. |
| Range | southeast California, adjacent southwest Arizona and almost certainly into northeast Baja California Norte and northwest Sonora. |