Species Mermiria picta - Lively Mermiria

Pictured Toothpick Grasshopper

New Mexico Toothpick Grasshopper

male body length 28-41 mm; female 41-57 mm

body long, narrow, greenish or brownish; face strongly slanted; antennae sword-shaped; dark middorsal line from front of head to rear of pronotum; distinct lateral ridges on dorsal surface of pronotum (a diagnostic characteristic); dark brown or black stripe extends from rear margin of eye onto base of forewing; basal region of forewing lacks narrow white streak (a distinguishing characteristic); hind tibiae long, thin, reddish

southeastern United States, north to Virginia and South Dakota, west to Arizona, south into Mexico

tall grasses, included wooded areas, usually in drier habitats than M. intertexta

Twostriped Mermiria (Mermiria bivittata) lacks dark middorsal line from front of head to rear of pronotum

Eastern Mermiria (Mermiria intertexta) has narrow white streak at base of forewing, and lacks distinct lateral ridges on dorsal surface of pronotum

species account; PDF doc including photo, description, common name reference, habitat, distribution, similar species (Synopsis of Florida Grasshopper Species, U. of Florida)