Species Circotettix splendidus - San Gabriel Wrangler Grasshopper

Circotettix splendidus Rehn & Hebard, 1909, from Mt. Lowe, San Gabriel Mts., California.

This as been considered as a synonym of similar Circotettix shastanus from further north, but the hind wings are much more like C. coconino and C. rabula in proportion, structure, and coloration. The wings of C. shastanus normally lack a vein that is present in other species of Circotettix, including C. splendidus.

Overall grayish or brownish (usually rather light), with darker speckling that may group into irregular broken dark cross bands on the tegmina (front wings). Hind wing with an undulate outer margin and produced apex; yellow at base, with dark cross band weak and often confined mostly to veins; wing clear beyond cross band.

Within it's range, likely to be confused only with Trimerotropis species. T. suffusa and T. bernardi are most similar. Both are proportionately more slender, with the tegmina (front wings) somewhat narrower. The hind wing has the apex less produced and radial veins less thickened. T. verruculosa suffusa (usually) and T. bernardi (sometimes) have the apex of the hind wing darkened, and the dark cross band is more solid (not confined to veins as it usually is in C. splendidus. In T. verruculosa suffusa the body coloring varies, but is often more even and darker. Both Trimerotropis species sound and behave similarly to Circotettix in flight, but they are not so loud. [Note: T. bernardi is likely a local variant or subspecies of T. suffusa.]

Other species of Trimerotropis usually are distinctly smaller; or, differ significantly in pattern; or, are structurally quite different and occur in different habitats.

Other species of Circotettix are very similar, but do not occur with it.

San Emigdio Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, and San Bernardino Mountains of southern California.

Primarily on exposed steep rocky areas in higher mountains, usually in forested areas.