Orthoptera of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):

View	Tetrigidae Members:	NC Records
Tetrix arenosa Burmeister, 1838 - Sanded Pygmy Grasshopper

Taxonomy

Family: Tetrigidae	Subfamily: Tetriginae	Tribe:
Species Status: Tetrix is one of four genera in the subfamily Tetriginae. Members of this group have fewer than 15 segments; the middle femurs are laterally compressed and carinate dorsally; and the front edge of the pronotum is usually truncate except in Nomotettix, where it is angulate and projecting forward (Hancock, 1902; Blatchley, 1920). In genus Tetrix, the median carina of the pronotum is low rather than arched and its front margin is truncate or obtuse-angulate. The hind margin of the lateral lobes of the pronotum are strongly bisinuate (Blatchley, 1920).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions:	Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images, iNaturalist, GBIF
Comments: Grayish or blackish, sometimes with a large pale patch on the dorsal surface of the pronotum, with traces of black on the posterior margin (Blatchley, 1920). Some of our specimens are reddish brown.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 8-12 mm, males; 9-14 mm, females (Blatchley, 1920)
Structural Features: The fastigium is about twice the width of one of the eyes and only slightly projecting in front of them. The eyes are elevated and protruberant. The pronotum is flat and granulate with only a weakly developed median carina, if visible at all.

Distribution in North Carolina


County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Adult Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Rehn and Hebard (1916) found this species on the sandy shoreline of Lake Waccamaw, on a sandy border of a bog, on wet clay bordering a small stream, and in dry, sandy upland areas. Our recent records come from a lake shore and from a forested bottomland near a stream bank.

Diet:

Observation Methods:

Abundance/Frequency:

Adult Phenology:

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S3S4

State Protection:

Comments:

Image Gallery for Tetrix arenosa - Sanded Pygmy Grasshopper
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Jim Petranka Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall, John Amoroso, Jame Amoroso Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall, John Amoroso, Jame Amoroso Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall, Ed Corey, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin, Tom Howard, Carol Tingley, Brian Bockhahn, and Van Cotter Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment:

Tetrix arenosa Burmeister, 1838 - Sanded Pygmy Grasshopper

Image Gallery for Tetrix arenosa - Sanded Pygmy Grasshopper