Species Tettigidea lateralis - Black-sided Pygmy Grasshopper

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited

Pygmy Hopper - Tettigidea lateralis - female

Black-sided Pygmy Grasshopper - Tettigidea lateralis - female

Early Spring grasshopper in wetland - Tettigidea lateralis - female

Pygmy Grasshopper - Tettigidea lateralis - female

Tettigidea lateralis ? - Tettigidea lateralis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)

Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)

Family Tetrigidae (Pygmy Grasshoppers)

Subfamily Batrachideinae

Genus Tettigidea

Species lateralis (Black-sided Pygmy Grasshopper)

Explanation of Names

Tettigidea lateralis (Say 1824)

Size

in average, larger than most tetrigids in our area: 9-16 mm(1); per (2), ♂ 8-11 mm, ♀ 12-14 mm

Identification

Coloration black to cream. Lower face of female usually dark, that of male usually creamy white.(2) Hind femur often with pale spot. Front margin of pronotum not spined(3)(1)

Range

e NA (NS-FL to MB-seAZ)(4)

Habitat

dry and wet habitats: sand dunes, swamps, forests

Season

All year in NC(5); all year except coldest months in MI(3)

Life Cycle

may form migratory swarms. Macropterous or brachypterous. One generation per year in north, two in south.

Remarks

the most widespread and common member of the genus

Works Cited

1.	How to Know the Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, and Their Allies Jacques R. Helfer. 1962. Wm. C. Brown Company.

2.	Field Guide To Grasshoppers, Katydids, And Crickets Of The United States John L. Capinera, Ralph D. Scott, Thomas J. Walker. 2004. Cornell University Press.

3.	Orthoptera of Michigan Roger Bland. 2003. Michigan State University Extension.

4.	Batrachideinae (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae): an overview of the most diverse tetrigids of the Neotropical region Silva D.S.M., Cadena-Castañeda O.J., Pereira M.R. 2021. Zootaxa 4946: 1-84.

5.	Insects of North Carolina C.S. Brimley. 1938. North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Contributed by Cotinis on 23 December, 2004 - 6:56am
Additional contributions by David Ferguson, v belov
Last updated 1 February, 2023 - 5:39pm

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