Aeoloplides minor
(Bruner, 1904)
Little Saltbush Grasshopper
Aeoloplides minor, commonly known as the little saltbush , is a of spur-throated grasshopper in the Acrididae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from Colorado and Nevada. The species is a member of the Aeoloplides, which includes other saltbush-associated grasshoppers. It is among the less economically significant grasshopper species in western North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aeoloplides minor: /eɪˌɒləˈplaɪdiːz ˈmaɪnər/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Colorado; Nevada; North America. Distribution records are sparse, with only 8 observations documented in iNaturalist as of the source date.
Similar Taxa
- Aeoloplides turnbulliBoth are congeneric spur-throated grasshoppers associated with saltbush ; A. turnbulli is more widely documented and may be confused with A. minor where ranges overlap.
- Aeoloplides chenopodiiAnother congeneric with similar plant associations; distinguished by geographic distribution and subtle morphological differences.
More Details
Data Limitations
This is significantly underrepresented in entomological surveys. The Wyoming Distribution Atlas explicitly notes that weed-feeding species including Aeoloplides species are underrepresented due to survey protocols that direct collectors away from atypical rangeland vegetation. This likely affects distribution and abundance data for A. minor.
Taxonomic History
First described by Bruner in 1904. The Aeoloplides belongs to the Melanoplinae (spur-throated grasshoppers), characterized by the presence of a spur or projection on the surface of the throat.