Ornate Grouse Locust
Tetrix ornata
Identification 5
Small, ~13 mm. Color varies, so morphological characters are best for identification. Orthoptera of Michigan is the best non-academic reference I have found for Pygmy Grasshoppers. In T. ornata, the fastigium (the "forehead" or peak of the head pointing forward between the eyes) is rounded (see Figure 16) and the pronotum has a slight crest. The median ridge on top of the head protrudes slightly beyond the front of the head. The face is only slightly indented.
For a positive ID, get pictures of the head from above, from the side, and from the front at an angle so the space between the eyes can be seen.
Resources 5
Orthoptera of Michigan: https://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/Ag.%20Ext.%202007-Chelsie/PDF/e2815.pdf
BugGuide also has useful comment for this species: https://bugguide.net/node/view/103995
Vickery, V.R. and Kevan, D.K., 1985. The grasshoppers, crickets, and related insects of Canada and adjacent regions. Ulonata: Dermaptera, Cheleutoptera, Notoptera, Dictuoptera, Grylloptera, and Orthoptera. Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 14. Agriculture Canada.
Occurrence 5
Statewide but rarely reported.
Habitat 5
Often bare ground at the edges of water bodies, but is also collected elsewhere.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Don Sutherland, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Don Sutherland
- (c) Jean-François Roch, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jean-François Roch
- (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz
- (c) Thomas Barbin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Thomas Barbin
- (c) Tyler Grant, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
