Aptenopedes appalachee
Hebard, 1936
Aptenopedes appalachee is a of spur-throated grasshopper in the Acrididae, first described by Hebard in 1936. The species is to Florida, where it inhabits sandy upland . Like other members of the Aptenopedes, it is characterized by reduced or absent wings, making it flightless. The specific epithet references the Apalachee region of Florida.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aptenopedes appalachee: //æpˈtiːnəˌpiːdiːz ˌæpəˈlætʃiː//
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Identification
Members of the Aptenopedes are distinguished from other Melanoplinae by their flightless condition, with wings reduced to small pads or entirely absent. Within the genus, A. appalachee can be separated from by geographic distribution—restricted to Florida—whereas other Aptenopedes occur further north in the Atlantic coastal plain. The pronotum is extended posteriorly over the , and the hind are enlarged for jumping.
Habitat
Sandy upland in Florida, including scrub and sandhill .
Distribution
to Florida, United States. Records indicate occurrence in the northern and central portions of the peninsula.
Behavior
Flightless; movement is restricted to jumping.
Similar Taxa
- Aptenopedes sphenarioidesOverlaps in characteristics but occurs in Georgia and the Carolinas rather than Florida.
- Aptenopedes apalachee [sic, if exists]Potential confusion with similarly named ; proper spelling is 'appalachee'.
More Details
Etymology
The specific epithet 'appalachee' refers to the Apalachee, a historic Native American people of the Florida Panhandle, and the region bearing their name.