Fontana Grasshopper
Trimerotropis fontana
This record describes Trimerotropis fontana (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Makes an interrupted buzzing (pulse-buzz) sound when flying; not particularly loud or harsh. Will often fly through branches of trees and shrubs to escape. The distinction of this species from Trimerotropis cincta seems artificial. The only relatively constant difference is the black mask through the eyes of T. cincta and distribution, yet even the mask is sometimes present (especially in males) in T. fontana and sometimes missing (especially in females) in T. cincta . T. cincta occurs mostly east of T. fontana from British Columbia to Arizona, New Mexico and Nebraska. Trimerotropis koebelei is also basically the same and distinguished apparently only by coloration, with intermediate conditions occuring. It is like T. cincta , but averages lighter and more contrasting than both T. fontana and T. cincta , and occurs in the Sierras and Coast Ranges in California and Oregon.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)
- Suborder
- Caelifera
- Family
- Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
- Subfamily
- Oedipodinae
- Tribe
- Trimerotropini
- Genus
- Trimerotropis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Varied, but typically on sloping ground in open spots in open forest or woodland. Typically found in mountainous regions.
Geographic Range
Southern British Columbia to northern Arizona, west to the Pacific. The eastern limits in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah are ill-defined due to intergradatio with Trimerotropis cincta .
Seasonal Activity
Summer to frost
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Overwinters as eggs.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The large number of synonyms is a testament to how varied the coloration of this species can be.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Trimerotropis fontana. 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 Fontana Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by David Ferguson , Harsi S. Parker
Frequently Asked Questions About Fontana Grasshopper
What is Fontana Grasshopper?
Fontana Grasshopper (Trimerotropis fontana) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
Where is Fontana Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Varied, but typically on sloping ground in open spots in open forest or woodland. Typically found in mountainous regions. |
| Range | Southern British Columbia to northern Arizona, west to the Pacific. The eastern limits in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah are ill-defined due to intergradatio with Trimerotropis cincta . |
When is Fontana Grasshopper active?
Fontana Grasshopper: seasonal activity - Summer to frost.
What is the life cycle of a Fontana Grasshopper?
Overwinters as eggs.