Floritettix nigropicta

Identified by complete absence of wings, placing it among Florida's flightless grasshopper fauna. The spur-throated characteristic (a projection on the prosternum) places it in Melanoplinae. Endemic to Florida's central sand ridge habitats, which narrows geographic possibility.

A wingless grasshopper with dark markings. The specific epithet 'nigropicta' refers to the dark-painted coloration.

Sand scrub and scrubby flatwoods of the central Florida sand ridgeways, particularly the Lake Wales Ridge and associated ancient dune systems. These are xeric, well-drained sandy habitats with endemic vegetation.

Endemic to central Florida, United States. Range restricted to the central Florida sand ridgeways, including the Lake Wales Ridge region.

Flightless; movement is restricted to hopping. This limited dispersal capacity contributes to its restricted range and endemism.

• Other Floritettix speciesSame genus, potentially overlapping in Florida scrub habitats; F. nigropicta distinguished by winglessness and specific dark coloration pattern
• Melanoplus speciesOther spur-throated grasshoppers in same subfamily; F. nigropicta is wingless and restricted to Florida scrub, whereas most Melanoplus are winged and more widespread
• Other Florida scrub-endemic grasshoppersShare restricted sand ridge distribution; F. nigropicta distinguished by combination of winglessness, dark coloration, and spur-throated morphology

• endemic
• flightless
• scrub specialist
• sand ridge endemic
• Florida endemic

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life