Microtes Nymph? - Conozoa texana

Moved

Moved from Conozoa.

… David J. Ferguson, 3 June, 2011 - 4:43pm

Moved

… David J. Ferguson, 10 April, 2011 - 10:22pm

I'm now fairly sure it's Conozoa

I'm not sure which species though. In theory C. rebellis would be the most likely in San Francisco, but the coloring looks rather drab for that species.

… David J. Ferguson, 10 April, 2011 - 10:19pm

It can go under Sphingonotini

It may well be Microtes occidentalis, but the shape of the head looks so different from the adults to me, that I just can't be certain. There is nothing about it that even makes it certain if it is a Microtes, and in fact the twice cut pronotal ridge is supposed to not be a trait of M. occidentalis; however, some of the adults actually do show this too. It might be a Trimerotropis, or even a Conozoa.

Moved from Grasshoppers.

… David J. Ferguson, 27 August, 2009 - 11:50am

Thanks David

...for the clarifying details and the move. Considering it's a nymph and all, I'm happy to be able to get to subfamily...let alone a bit further.

… Aaron Schusteff, 27 August, 2009 - 10:11pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request. Not sure where you two want this to end up... :)

… Ken Schneider, 26 August, 2009 - 4:18pm

Thanks for your efforts Ken

...but I'm not sure either. According to the current phylogeny on BugGuide, the lowest rank "common taxon" for the two genera David mentioned (Microtes and Trimerotropis) is the tribe Sphingonotini. But perhaps the group David was referring to was the subfamily Oedipodinae or (I'd guess) at least the family Acrididae. I'm not knowledgeable enough of the group to know. Hopefully David or another orthopterist will get a chance to respond sometime soon.

… Aaron Schusteff, 26 August, 2009 - 8:31pm

It's definitely in the same group

as Microtes and Trimerotropis, and for once it's definitely NOT T. pallidipennis. As for M. occidentalis, perhaps; I can't rule it out. It helps if you can get images that show things like the front of the head, the inside of the hind leg, the color of the hind tibia and so on (you need to treat them like your kids when taking photos, try to get them to pose). I know it's not always posible, but it makes identification a lot easier. For now, I'm tentatively going to say you are likely correct, but I'll reserve the right to come back and change my mind :0)

… David J. Ferguson, 29 July, 2009 - 7:24pm

Thanks David

It's very helpful to know what to try to capture for ID purposes. Now I have a "Orthopteran field photo mantra":
....*) front of head
....*) inside of hind leg
....*) color of hind tibia

In the past I've usually tried to get a lateral profile shot, a vertical shot, and an oblique lateral shot. I'll try to add a face-on shot, and something that shows inside of hind leg.

… Aaron Schusteff, 29 July, 2009 - 11:40pm

your welcome

Of course what to shoot for easiest identification varies with the type of insect. If it's an adult, it's good if you can get the wings (but with grasshoppers you usually have to catch them for that), or at least note the wing color. If it's a Spur-throat Grasshopper or Katydid, it's usually easier to identify males, and then try to get good shots of his rear end (the tip of his abdomen) from a few angles. And of course if they are nymphs, there is very little literature available, and they often don't look anything like the adults, especially when they are really young. Sometimes guessing by association with adults is the only way, until you get experience and learn what each species looks like at all ages. It's always easier with a specimen in hand that with a photo. Frustrating for many people, but for me a fun challenge - in fact downright addictive.

… David J. Ferguson, 30 July, 2009 - 11:48am