Pseudopomala
Morse, 1896
Species Guides
1- Pseudopomala brachyptera(short-winged toothpick grasshopper)
Pseudopomala is a of slant-faced grasshoppers in the Acrididae, containing a single described , P. brachyptera. The genus is classified within the Gomphocerinae and tribe Mermiriini. It is native to North America, with records from the northeastern and north-central United States.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pseudopomala: //suˌdoʊpoʊˈmɑːlə//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
As a containing only Pseudopomala brachyptera, -level identification within Pseudopomala is not applicable. The genus is distinguished from related genera in the tribe Mermiriini by features of the single included species.
Images
Habitat
Areas with taller grasses. In Wyoming, found in vacant lots with taller grasses along watercourses.
Distribution
Northeastern and north-central United States. Documented from Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Most common in northeast Wyoming but may occur wherever taller grass are present.
Seasonality
overwinter in soil. present from mid-July through August.
Diet
Grass feeder.
Life Cycle
overwinter in soil. emerge mid-July through August.
Human Relevance
Low and limited area prevent this from damaging rangelands except in conjunction with other . Not considered a significant economic pest. In trials, showed 28% mortality, indicating moderate susceptibility to carbaryl-treated bran bait.
Similar Taxa
- ParopomalaBoth belong to tribe Mermiriini and share slant-faced ; distinguished by different included and geographic distribution
- MermiriaSame tribe (Mermiriini) with similar grassland preferences; Mermiria contains multiple with broader distribution
More Details
Monotypy
The contains only one described , P. brachyptera (Scudder), making it . This limits the utility of genus-level identification keys for distinguishing among congeneric species.
Etymology
The name combines the Greek prefix 'pseudo-' (false) with 'Pomala', a related genus, indicating morphological similarity to that group.
Research references
Otte 1981 and Capinera and Sechrist 1982 are cited as references for this in Wyoming literature.