Prionyx thomae ?? - Prionyx

Just thought I'd throw in that the Grasshopper is

a male Trimerotropis pallidipennis.

… David J. Ferguson, 25 November, 2009 - 10:49am

I think

Prionyx have no limit on hopper size that they will take on. And thomae and parkeri I always have trouble with. Odds are better in NM for thomae. Surprisingly there are no other SW species to contend with in the genus unless subatratus sneaks in which I think is unproven. There are some CA species (atratus and others). I don't have a description of subatratus. P. atratus has a black abdomen.

… Herschel Raney, 16 February, 2009 - 3:10pm

This is not accurate information

The following Prionyx species occur in NM:
Prionyx atratus (Lepeletier, 1845)
Prionyx fervens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Prionyx foxi Bohart and Menke, 1963
Prionyx parkeri Bohart and Menke, 1963
Prionyx subatratus Bohart, 1958
Prionyx thomae (Fabricius, 1775)

This map may be helpful:
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?kind=Prionyx_

The underscore after the genus maps all species separately.

In SE Arizona and Hidalgo Co., NM, nearly all of the red-tailed Prionyx I've det. are parkeri.

… John S. Ascher, 19 April, 2009 - 2:34pm

Thanks

Thanks Herschel

… Bob Barber, 16 February, 2009 - 3:16pm

Prionyx.

Prionyx thomae, parkeri, and canadensis are all nearly identical in overall appearance. P. thomae has very short palps in contrast to the other two, but, obviously, those mouthparts are not visible in these images (or essentially any other images of live specimens). Please leave at genus level. GREAT shots, by the way! It certainly is amazing the size of the prey they will tackle. Like one of us wrestling a steer:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 16 February, 2009 - 7:56pm

palpi not visible in any images of live specimens?

They are clearly visible in this shot:

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20p?see=I_JSA40&res=640

… John S. Ascher, 19 April, 2009 - 2:32pm