Larger Pygmy Mole Grasshopper
Neotridactylus apicialis
Identification 4
Larger Pygmy Mole Grasshopper and Smaller Sand Cricket (Ellipes minuta) are very similar. They both occur in wet sand or mud next to the water. Size can help distinguish the two species. Larger Pygmy Mole Grasshoppers are 5.5-10 mm, while Smaller Sand Crickets are 5 mm or less. Larger Pygmy Mole Crickets have a less distinct pattern and are smooth, while Smaller Sand Crickets tend to have bold banding and minute hairs.
Some sources call this species the Larger Pygmy Mole Cricket. While it appears more similar to crickets, it is closer related to grasshoppers.
BugGuide and other sources note that the Smaller Sand Cricket does not have tarsi on the hind leg, which is the last segment of the leg. However, I find this character very difficult to see and use. The tarsi is missing, but there is a long spine there that they use for digging, so it can difficult to tell the tarsi from the spine. And usually the hind leg is folded up. Diagrams of hind legs and the differences between the species can be seen in Figure 16 of Orthoptera of Michigan. Sources also list the prosternal spine as a character, which would be difficult to see without magnification.
Resources 4
Orthoptera of Michigan: https://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/Ag.%20Ext.%202007-Chelsie/PDF/e2815.pdf
Not covered by SINA, apparently.
Occurrence 4
Statewide. This species occurs across most of the eastern U.S. and south into Central America.
Habitat 4
Wet sand or mud on the edges of ponds, rivers, or other water bodies. Usually sand according to Orthoptera of Michigan.
Fontes e Créditos
- (c) cameralenswrangler, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by cameralenswrangler
- (c) Sam Kieschnick, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick
- (c) Ben Hutchins, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ben Hutchins
- (c) Tyler Grant, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)
