Genus Achurum

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Remarks

Toothpick Grasshopper - Achurum carinatum

Sumichrast's Toothpick Grasshopper - Achurum sumichrasti

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)

Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)

Family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)

Subfamily Gomphocerinae (Slant-faced Grasshoppers)

No Taxon (Achurum Group)

Genus Achurum

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists three North American species.

Identification

Some tips for differentiating this from other "toothpick" grasshopper genera North of Mexico (David Ferguson, in comments here):

"knee" of hind femur in Achurum with distinctive points that stick backward

eyes of Achurum not striped prominently

face of Achurum concave

in Achurum, no projection on the prosternum between the base of the front legs

Remarks

Achurum seems not particularly closely related to other genera included in the Gomphocerinae, and even though it has the stridulatory file on the hind femur that is typical of this subfamily, it is probably much more closely related to the genus Metaleptea and it's relatives (see comments under subfamily Acridinae). However, Achurum is most easily confused with other toothpick grasshoppers in the Gomphocerinae as well as the Leptysminae.

Contributed by Cotinis on 27 June, 2004 - 8:15am
Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Last updated 21 May, 2009 - 6:37pm

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