Dracotettix monstrosus

Bruner, 1889

Gray Dragon Lubber

Dracotettix monstrosus, the gray dragon lubber, is a large, flightless lubber grasshopper to California. It belongs to the Romaleidae, a group known for their aposematic coloration and chemical defenses. The is notable for its distinctive reflecting both its draconic appearance and monstrous size relative to other grasshoppers.

Dracotettix monstrosus by (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC-BY license.

Dracotettix monstrosus by Ken-ichi Ueda. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dracotettix monstrosus: //ˌdrækoʊˈtɛtɪks mɒnˈstroʊsəs//

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Distribution

to California, United States. GBIF records confirm presence in California with distribution limited to this state within North America.

More Details

Family classification note

Wikipedia lists this in Acrididae, while Catalogue of Life and GBIF place it in Romaleidae. Romaleidae is now widely accepted as a distinct family of lubber grasshoppers rather than a within Acrididae.

Etymology

The specific epithet 'monstrosus' refers to the large, formidable appearance of this . The name 'Dracotettix' combines Latin 'draco' (dragon) with the common grasshopper suffix '-tettix', referencing the Greek word for /grasshopper.