Mermiria intertexta
Scudder, 1899
Coastal Toothpick Grasshopper, Eastern Mermiria
Mermiria intertexta, commonly known as the Coastal Toothpick or Eastern Mermiria, is a slant-faced grasshopper in the Acrididae. It is distributed along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the eastern United States. The belongs to the Mermiria, which includes several closely related slant-faced grasshoppers found in North American grasslands.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mermiria intertexta: /mɛrˈmɪriə ˌɪntərˈtɛkstə/
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Identification
of Mermiria intertexta can be distinguished from by the following characters: sides of occiput and pronotal disk with an ivory stripe; two longitudinal white or ivory streaks on the tegmen, one above the base of the hindleg and one above the . These features contrast with M. bivittata, which has one streak on the tegmen and lacks ivory stripes on the occiput and pronotal disk; and M. picta, which lacks both ivory stripes and tegmen streaks. M. texana also has ivory stripes on the occiput and pronotal disk but has two tegmen streaks like M. intertexta, requiring careful examination of streak placement.
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Habitat
Found in coastal environments along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the eastern United States. Specific details within this range are not well documented in available sources.
Distribution
Eastern United States along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Specific records exist from Florida, Georgia, and Virginia.
Similar Taxa
- Mermiria bivittataOverlaps geographically and seasonally; distinguished by one tegmen streak and lack of ivory stripes on occiput and pronotal disk
- Mermiria texanaOverlaps geographically and seasonally; also has ivory stripes on occiput and pronotal disk and two tegmen streaks, requiring careful examination of streak placement
- Mermiria pictaOverlaps geographically and seasonally; distinguished by lack of ivory stripes on occiput and pronotal disk and lack of tegmen streaks
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Mermiria intertexta is one of four recognized in the Mermiria. The genus is characterized by slant-faced , , and distinctive pronotal and tegmen patterning that serves as the primary basis for species identification.
Nomenclature
The specific epithet 'intertexta' was established by Scudder in 1899. The 'Coastal Toothpick ' reflects both its coastal distribution and the slender, elongate body form typical of the .