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Hooded Grouse Locust - Paratettix cucullatus (Burmeister,
1838) Insect Order Orthoptera / Family: Tetrigidae - Pygmy Grasshoppers Live late-stage nymph photographed March 30th, near Chicago Size: 6mm |
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Identification: Tiny orthoptera, similar in form to Acrididae, usually associated with wet areas. Less than 20 mm length, often smaller. Pronotum is highly elongated, tapered, and usually covers abdomen tegmina. Forewings are small, padlike, sometimes absent, may be exposed or covered by pronotum. Front and middle tarsi with 2 segments, hind tarsi with 3 segments (formula 2-2-3). Hind tibiae expanded (for swimming!) in some species. A single species can have short-winged and long-winged forms, or lack wings altogether--these forms may appear quite different. Auditory and stridulatory organs absent. Coloration and pattern, even within a single species, are variable. Often strongly sexually dimorphic, both in size (females usually larger) and in coloration. Some specimens appear green due to an external growth of algae. [1] This specimen was photographed in early spring, about 3 feet from a pond in Warrenville, Illinois. It was not particulary wary, as I was able to position it a bit with a leaf before it finally, energetically sprang away. Ambient temperature was only about 50 degrees.
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 Adult Tetrix arenosa |
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The pygmy grasshoppers, Orthoptera family Tetrigidae, can be recognized by their long pronotum, which extends far back over the abdomen, ending in a point. These grasshoppers are all less than 20mm long. Most are brown, and a few species have long functional flying wings. Females are larger than males. Adults and nymphs feed on algae and other organic material in wet soil. Also called grouse locusts. |
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 Adult Female Pygmy Grasshopper - Tetrix arenosa [3] |
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 This view shows the dorsal and ventral valves of the ovipositor - one sure indication this is a female of the species. Also quite apparent is the long, tapered pronotum extending almost to the tip of the wings. |
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