Tropidacris cristata

Tropidacris cristata
Adult above, nymph below (both in Costa Rica)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Romaleidae
Subfamily: Romaleinae
Tribe: Tropidacrini
Genus: Tropidacris
Species:
T. cristata
Binomial name
Tropidacris cristata
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Tropidacris latreillei (Perty, 1832)

Tropidacris cristata, the giant red-winged grasshopper, is a widespread species of lubber grasshopper in the family Romaleidae from tropical South and Central America, and Mexico.[1][2][3] It is among the largest grasshoppers in the world by length and wingspan, reaching up to 14.5 cm (5.7 in) and 24 cm (9.4 in) respectively.[4][5] More typical adult lengths are 5.5–7 cm (2.2–2.8 in), average 6.5 cm (2.6 in), in males and 7–12 cm (2.8–4.7 in), average 11 cm (4.3 in), in females.[6][7] As suggested by the common name, adult T. cristata have conspicuously red wings in flight, although the exact red hue varies.[6] The flightless and gregarious nymphs have aposematic dark-and-yellow stripes and are presumed to be toxic.[5][7]

T. cristata occurs in a wide range of habitats, both in lowlands and highlands.[3][8] In the southern part of its distribution, it is largely restricted to humid and semi-humid forested regions, avoiding places that are open and dry, but in the northern part it also occurs in somewhat drier habitats.[3][8] It is generally quite common, although the blue-winged T. collaris often is more common where their ranges overlap in South America (only T. cristata is found in some parts of northwestern South America and in Central America).[4][8]

T. cristata feeds on many types of plants and occasionally it is regarded as a pest.[6][7][8] The lifecycle is annual with overlapping generations,[9] but in some regions there is a level of seasonality in the occurrence of adults and nymphs.[7] The female lays an egg sac that contains up to 100 eggs in the soil.[9]

Subspecies

There are three subspecies of Tropidacris cristata:[3][8]

  • All three subspecies vary in colors, but T. c. dux commonly is quite yellowish
    All three subspecies vary in colors, but T. c. dux commonly is quite yellowish
  • The red wings typical of this species
    The red wings typical of this species

References

  1. ^ "Tropidacris cristata". GBIF. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  2. ^ Otte, Daniel; Cigliano, Maria Marta; Braun, Holger; Eades, David C. (2019). "species Tropidacris cristata (Linnaeus, 1758)". Orthoptera species file online, Version 5.0. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  3. ^ a b c d Carbonell, C.S. (1986). "Revision of the Neotropical Genus Tropidacris (Orthoptera, Acridoidea, Romaleidae, Romaleinae)". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 138 (2): 366–402.
  4. ^ a b Dinez-Filho, J.A.F.; et al. (2010). "Ensemble forecasting shifts in climatically suitable areas for Tropidacris cristata (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Romaleidae)". Insect Conservation and Diversity. 3 (3): 213–221. doi:10.1111/j.1752-4598.2010.00090.x.
  5. ^ a b Whitman, D.; Vincent, S. (2008). "Large size as an antipredator defense in an insect". Journal of Orthoptera Research. 17 (2): 353–371. doi:10.1665/1082-6467-17.2.353.
  6. ^ a b c Duranton, J.M.; Launois, M.; Launois-Luong, M.-H.; Lecoq, M. (1987). Guia prático de luta contra os gafanhotos devastadores no Brasil. Food and Agriculture Organization. p. 43. ISBN 2-87614-006-3.
  7. ^ a b c d Pech, M.A.P. (2021). "Ficha técnica: "Chapulín Gigante Tropidacris cristata dux" (Orthoptera: Romaleidae)" (PDF). Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e Paula Romão, E.d. (2017), Distribuição geográfica e potencial das espécies do gênero Tropidacris Scudder, 1869 (Orthoptera: Romaleidae), Pará State University
  9. ^ a b "Gigant grasshopper Tropidacris cristata – Lifecycle". National University of Colombia, Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 11 August 2023.