Awl-shaped Pygmy Grasshopper
Tetrix subulata
This record describes Tetrix subulata (species). Recorded family: Tetrigidae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Tetrix subulata: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrix_subulata.
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
holarctic, widespread; in our area, northern
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tetrix subulata (Linnaeus 1758)
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Tetrix subulata. 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 Awl-shaped Pygmy Grasshopper (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , v belov , metrioptera