Trimerotropis pacifica
This record describes Trimerotropis pacifica (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Body shades of gray or light brown with contrasting darker cross bands on tegmina; hind wings yellow with strong dark cross band; hind tibiae yellow; sides of pronotum with tooth at lower margin of hind angle. T. titusi is basically identical and likely not distinct; differing in paler coloring with dark pattern reduced on body and wings. T. californica has red hind tibiae, and may also be the same species. T. topanga has proportionately shorter wings and blue hind tibiae.
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
Geographic Range
California; known from within and adjacent to the Central Valley (mostly southern third and north end), and originally described from "Los Angeles".
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Trimerotropis pacifica. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trimerotropis pacifica
What is Trimerotropis pacifica?
Trimerotropis pacifica is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Trimerotropis pacifica?
Body shades of gray or light brown with contrasting darker cross bands on tegmina; hind wings yellow with strong dark cross band; hind tibiae yellow; sides of pronotum with tooth at lower margin of hind angle. T. titusi is basically identical and likely not distinct; differing in paler coloring with dark pattern reduced on body and wings. T. californica has red hind tibiae, and may also be the same species. T. topanga has proportionately shorter wings and blue hind tibiae.
Where is Trimerotropis pacifica found?
Range: California; known from within and adjacent to the Central Valley (mostly southern third and north end), and originally described from Los Angeles.