Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper
Tetrix brunnerii
This record describes Tetrix brunnerii (species). Recorded family: Tetrigidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very like T. ornata , but more northern and at higher elevations. The two are likely one species, and some individuals in the zone of contact are impossible to place in one species or the other. This species differs in having the fastigium (forehead) strongly produced forward when viewed in profile, and with a concavity below, just above the antennae. T. ornata has the fastigium less produced, and less notched in profile above the antennae. T. brunnerii has more slender hind legs, but tends to be a stockier insect otherwise, more often occuring in the form with a short pronotum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Tetrigidae (Pygmy Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Tetriginae
- Genus
- Tetrix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Oregon to Michigan and New York and northward. South in Rockies to at least Utah and Colorado.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Tetrix brunnerii. 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 Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by cotinis , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper
What is Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper?
Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper (Tetrix brunnerii) is a species in the family Tetrigidae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper?
Very like T. ornata , but more northern and at higher elevations. The two are likely one species, and some individuals in the zone of contact are impossible to place in one species or the other. This species differs in having the fastigium (forehead) strongly produced forward when viewed in profile, and with a concavity below, just above the antennae. T. ornata has the fastigium less produced, and less notched in profile above the antennae. T. brunnerii has more slender hind legs, but tends to be a stockier insect otherwise, more often occuring in the form with a short pronotum.
Where is Brunner Pygmy Grasshopper found?
Range: Oregon to Michigan and New York and northward. South in Rockies to at least Utah and Colorado.