Titus' Grasshopper
Trimerotropis titusi
This record describes Trimerotropis titusi (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pale coloring; reduced dark cross band of hind wings; yellow hind tibiae; pronotum with tooth at lower hind angle of sides. Closely related to T. californica and T. pacifica . Distinction as a species separate from T. pacifica is dubious, that species differing in more strongly developed dark patterning, and with stronger cross band on hind wing. Both differ from T. californica in having yellow instead of red hind tibia, and they may all represent variation within one species. T. topanga , from further south, is somewhat similar with better developed and darker patterning and blue hind tibia, but only sometimes with similar tooth on lateral lobes of pronotum.
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
Endemic to California; known from Santa Barbara to Monterey Counties.
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Trimerotropis titusi. 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 Titus' Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by James Bailey; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Titus' Grasshopper
What is Titus' Grasshopper?
Titus' Grasshopper (Trimerotropis titusi) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify Titus' Grasshopper?
Pale coloring; reduced dark cross band of hind wings; yellow hind tibiae; pronotum with tooth at lower hind angle of sides. Closely related to T. californica and T. pacifica . Distinction as a species separate from T. pacifica is dubious, that species differing in more strongly developed dark patterning, and with stronger cross band on hind wing. Both differ from T. californica in having yellow instead of red hind tibia, and they may all represent variation within one species. T. topanga , from further south, is somewhat similar with better developed and darker patterning and blue hind tibia, but only sometimes with similar tooth on lateral lobes of pronotum.
Where is Titus' Grasshopper found?
Range: Endemic to California; known from Santa Barbara to Monterey Counties.