White's Dune Grasshopper
Trimerotropis whitei
This record describes Trimerotropis whitei (species). Recorded family: Acrididae. Recorded order: Orthoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Small with wide pronotum flared to the sides. Identical to T. arenacea, but hind tibiae yellow to red instead of green to blue. Should be considered a synonym or at best a regional variant of T. arenacea , differing only in leg color, and perhaps in being slightly larger on average. T. arenacea occurs further north on sand dunes in the Great Basin. T. albescens in California is also rather similar. It often produces a continuous buzz when it flies.
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
sand dunes
Geographic Range
Vicinity of Kanab and Mount Carmel and Hopi Reservation in s. Utah and n. Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
adults in summer till frost
Diet and Behavior
Life History
overwinters as eggs
About Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids: the wider group
Order-level background for Orthoptera, the group containing Trimerotropis whitei. 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 White's Dune Grasshopper (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About White's Dune Grasshopper
What is White's Dune Grasshopper?
White's Dune Grasshopper (Trimerotropis whitei) is a species in the family Acrididae, within the order Orthoptera.
How do you identify White's Dune Grasshopper?
Small with wide pronotum flared to the sides. Identical to T. arenacea, but hind tibiae yellow to red instead of green to blue.
Where is White's Dune Grasshopper found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | sand dunes |
| Range | Vicinity of Kanab and Mount Carmel and Hopi Reservation in s. Utah and n. Arizona. |
When is White's Dune Grasshopper active?
White's Dune Grasshopper: seasonal activity - adults in summer till frost.
What is the life cycle of a White's Dune Grasshopper?
overwinters as eggs