Species Trimerotropis modesta - Modest Grasshopper

Trimerotropis modesta Bruner 1890, described from Silver City, NM

Trimerotropis fascicula McNeill 1901, described from Silver City, NM

Trimerotropis townsendi Bruner 1906, described from Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico

Habitat and distribution make confusion with most other species unlikely. The most similar is Spharagemon campestris, which occurs mostly further north, and which has a pattern usually more broken and irregular looking (see comments under that species). Trimerotropis pistrinaria has the pronotum more rounded on top with a much lower (even faint) median ridge, and usually is much more boldly and contrastingly patterned, with the band across the hind wing more curved and the tip less likely to be clouded with dark color. Trimerotropis californica has markings usually bolder and more contrasting, but if not there is a tooth at the lower rear margin of the sides of the pronotum that is usually present, but not in T. modesta. Spharagemon species that might occur with this species have a more roof-shaped pronotum (nearly flat in this species) with a higher carina (crest) that is cut only once (twice in this species). Trimerotropis tolteca from further south in Mexico is also very closely related, but usually more plainly marked with more blurry wing band, with the tip of the wing almost always dark, and with most of inner hind femur dark.

In early literature, there was much confusion between various species of Trimerotropis and Spharagemon with red hind tibiae, and older records for several species are often questionable; many are definitely based on misidentified specimens. This species was often involved.

Southern Mexico north in mountains to Utah and Colorado.

Mostly in mountain areas on gravelly grassy ground in open woodlands.

Very closely related to Spharagemon campestris, and seems to take on some of the character of that species in the north where the two come close together. Perhaps they are variants of one species???

As with most related species mentioned, this species produces a relatively loud and harsh continuous crackling (or call it a buzzing) sound when it flies.