Trimerotropini

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trimerotropini: /ˌtraɪməˈrɒtrəˌpaɪnaɪ/

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Images

Summary

Trimerotropini is a diverse tribe of band-winged grasshoppers characterized by their slender bodies, colored hind wings, and distinct dark wing patterns. They inhabit various environments primarily in the Americas, with a lifecycle typically involving annual generations and overwintering eggs. While they are widely recognized for their striking appearances and sounds, they do not hold significant economic importance, though they serve as conspicuous elements in their ecosystems.

Physical Characteristics

Generally slender, with colored hind wings. Hind wings can be clear, yellow, green, or blue; two North American species have red wings. Notable dark band crossing wings, sometimes expanded considerably or forming a narrow dark outer border. Tegmina typically have two or three dark cross bands. Variable hind femur coloration, often with dark cross bands, and hind tibiae vary in color (brownish, red, orange, yellow, green, or blue).

Identification Tips

Look for slender body shape with banded hind wings. Distinctive dark bands on wings and well-developed median ridge of the pronotum are key identification features.

Habitat

Primarily favor bare ground in open, sunny, semi-arid to arid environments such as grasslands, deserts, mountainsides, and rock exposures; some species inhabit woodland areas.

Distribution

Primarily North American, with some weak representation in South America, particularly in the Greater Antilles, coastal Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands.

Diet

Herbivorous, feeding on various types of vegetation.

Life Cycle

Usually a single annual generation with eggs overwintering in the ground; hatching occurs mostly in spring, with adults maturing in late spring or summer. Some species can survive winter as adults, and at least one species is multiple-brooded in southern regions.

Reproduction

Eggs overwinter in the ground; species typically have one generation per year, though some may have more depending on environmental conditions.

Ecosystem Role

As conspicuous insects, they can be part of the food web and play a role in the ecosystem as herbivores.

Economic Impact

Rarely of economic significance, but are noticeable due to their visibility and sounds; some species are beautiful and attract attention.

Collecting Methods

• Hand collection
• Pitfall traps
• Sweep nets

Preservation Methods

• Ethanol storage
• Pinned specimens
• Dry storage

Similar Taxa

• Sphingonotini
• Bryodemini

Misconceptions

Some may confuse Trimerotropini with similar Old World tribes due to morphological similarities, despite molecular evidence of distinct lineages.

Tags

• Grasshoppers
• Acrididae
• Trimerotropini
• Orthoptera
• North America
• Ecuador
• Galapagos