Species Trimerotropis leucophaea - Inyo Blue-wing Grasshopper

Trimerotropis leucophaea D.C.F. Rentz & D.B. Weissman. Described from White Mountains, Inyo County, California

Like T. sparsa in most features, and perhaps only a regional variant of that species. Specimens were usually refered to that species or to T. cyaneipennis before the name "leucophaea" was published. The only differences that appear to be reliable are geographic distribution further west and (?always) blue hind tibiae [yellowish in T. sparsa]. The head of T. leucophaea seems to average proportionately larger than in T. sparsa as well, and there is often blue coloring on the abdomen.

T. leucophaea is mostly a rather plain brownish to grayish grasshopper. It has relatively long transparent blue hind wings, with the dark cross bands of the tegmina ill-defined and weak to not developed at all.

T. cyaneipennis, T. arizonensis, & T. pseudofasciata, are also somewhat similar, but differ in proportions and all nearly always have well-defined contrasting tegminal cross bands. T. cyaneipennis & arizonensis both are usually smaller with proportionately shorter wings, and have the dark band of the hind wing usually darker and better developed, while T. pseudofasciata has the crest toward the front of the pronotum significantly more elevated than behind, and usually has a tooth at the lower rear angles of the sides of the pronotum (absent in the others).

Known from the Benton Range, White Mountains, and Panamint Range in southern Mono, Inyo, and northern San Bernardino Counties, California. Perhaps also further north near the west edge of the Great Basin in western Nevada and northeastern California to Lassen and Modoc Counties.

Mid to high elevation exposed slopes and scree, little to sparse vegetation. In some sites may be associated with soft or eroded rocky soil in arroyos and canyons. Generally these ecozones are established with open Pinon-Juniper Woodland or Great Basin Scrub in mountain areas.

Overwinters as eggs, with adults in summer (apparently mostly August & September).

Circotettix undulatus

T. cyaneipennis