Lompoc Grasshopper
Trimerotropis occulens
This record describes Trimerotropis occulens (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Small size; pale color; narrow usually clearly defined dark bands (sometimes faint) usually do not cross top of folded tegmina; wings wide, disk yellow, usually tinged greenish, with dark cross band usually faint to cloudy and situated well beyond middle of wing, not strongly curved in inner side, with dark spur near costa reaching most of distance to base of wing; hind tibiae usually blue often partly blackish (quoted in original description as yellow-brown to bluish), with pale basal ring and with spines at least partly black; inner hind femur mostly dark with two pale cross bands, one in middle, one across apical half (sometimes black somewhat reduced to appear as three large black spots on a pale near white background, but still black is the dominant color). Very similar to pale specimens of T. occidentalis but distinctly smaller, and with dark cross bands of tegmina averaging cleaner, narrower, and usually not crossing on top. Wings of T. occidentalis are often much greener or even bluish. T. thalasicca can be very similar in appearance, but is larger with usually proportionately longer wings; wings are usually pale green to bluish with dark band absent to very faint; and with inner hind femur more black (middle pale cross band absent or at least usually not completely crossing black area). Other similar species are usually from other areas, considerably larger, and/or darker in color or with a distinctly different color pattern.
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
pale gravelly/rocky ground
Geographic Range
Apparently highly restricted, and known only from western Santa Barbara County, California. Likely threatened by habitat degradation and ongoing land development.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Trimerotropis occulens. 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 Lompoc Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Lompoc Grasshopper
What is Lompoc Grasshopper?
Lompoc Grasshopper (Trimerotropis occulens) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Lompoc Grasshopper?
Small size; pale color; narrow usually clearly defined dark bands (sometimes faint) usually do not cross top of folded tegmina; wings wide, disk yellow, usually tinged greenish, with dark cross band usually faint to cloudy and situated well beyond middle of wing, not strongly curved in inner side, with dark spur near costa reaching most of distance to base of wing; hind tibiae usually blue often partly blackish (quoted in original description as yellow-brown to bluish), with pale basal ring and with spines at least partly black; inner hind femur mostly dark with two pale cross bands, one in middle, one across apical half (sometimes black somewhat reduced to appear as three large black spots on a pale near white background, but still black is the dominant color). Very similar to pale specimens of T. occidentalis but distinctly smaller, and with dark cross bands of tegmina averaging cleaner, narrower, and usually not crossing on top. Wings of T. occidentalis are often much greener or even bluish. T. thalasicca can be very similar in appearance, but is larger with usually proportionately longer wings; wings are usually pale green to bluish with dark band absent to very faint; and with inner hind femur more black (middle pale cross band absent or at least usually not completely crossing black area). Other similar species are usually from other areas, considerably larger, and/or darker in color or with a distinctly different color pattern.
Where is Lompoc Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | pale gravelly/rocky ground |
| Range | Apparently highly restricted, and known only from western Santa Barbara County, California. Likely threatened by habitat degradation and ongoing land development. |