Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Pedioscirtetes nevadensis C. Thomas, 1873. Described from southeastern Nevada
Acrolophitus nevadensis (Thomas) Otte, 1981
Identification
Similar to A. hirtipes, except with no crest on pronotum, smaller in size, and occuring further west (not known to overlap in distribution).
A. pulchellus is very similar, except with more extensive pale markings, and found further north in Idaho. Has been treated as a regional variant or synonym of the same species, but this is a more stocky insect with proportionately larger pronotum. It is generally treated as distinct.
Range
west central New Mexico, west across northern Arizona into eastern Nevada, and north into Utah and northwestern Colorado. Very rarely encountered, and known from few widely scattered locations. Likely more common than realized, but a better understanding of host preferences and habits is needed.
Habitat
Has been found in grassland, open Pinon-Juniper, and sandhills environments. Little is known of it's needs or habits.
Food
Not definitely documented. Has been listed as associated with several plant species (Lappula coronata, Actinidia richardsonii, Artemisia frigida, Gutierrezia sp., Bouteloua sp.), but these are unlikely to all really be food plants. Likely (based on close relatives' choices) the prefered host plants will be small shrubby or herbaceous Asteraceae, Loacaceae or Boraginaceae. Of those listed, Actinidia or Lappula seem the most likely candidates, but these plants are so generally distributed and common as to make one wonder why the insects would not be more commonly found.
Life Cycle
Eggs overwinter in soil, hatch in spring, and mature in late June or July. Adults mostly gone before September.
Remarks
Behavior is more similar to a Bandwing Grasshopper than to most other Slantface species. This is an alert insect that is fairly difficult to follow and catch. When flushed, specimens will typically fly up and then horizantally for some distance, and are often difficult to visually keep track of among the other (often abundant) yellow-winged species that fly up with it. There seems to be a very faint ticking sould produced when these fly, but this needs verification, as it is difficult to sort out various insect sounds that are occuring all at once. Similar sound has been noticed from other Acrolophitus species (except A. hirtipes).
