Heteracris littoralis Full Body

Again, the species is just a guess. It would be great if some can accurately identify the species

comments (6)

Pudding4brains

Lion

Hi AvinashKrishnan,

It's not the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) - too short/stout, antennae too long, shape of pronotum wrong, patterns on pronotum, legs and wings don't match ... but I really, really, really know nothing about Grasshoppers, let alone from your area :-X
Maybe you could add a size to the description? It might help if someone more knowledgeable looks at it.
Cheers, Arp

Posted 8 years ago
1. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  What would you say about Heteracris littoralis or another species of Heteracris? Posted 8 years ago

AvinashKrishnan

Snow Leopard

Thanks Pudding and Wildflower,

@Pudding: The length of the insect was roughly 1 to 1.5 inches long. and width would probably be 10-8mm

@Wildflower: I checked the images of "Heteracris littoralis". They are pretty close to the insect i have captured. Specially the brown and white pattern on dorsal side of the insect. Also the size of its hind leg thighs are strikingly similar to my snapshot. PFB the google image reference and comparing this pic with my image. There is a high percentage of similarities, if not a 100% match.

The only problem is "Heteracris littoralis" species is more prominent in the upper Mediterranean region i.e. southern coastal Europe..and not Saudi Arabia.
https://www.google.com.sa/search?q=Heteracris+littoralis&safe=strict&tbm=isch&imgil=6lhwcXPemPpwDM%253A%253Bv2aeYFtDFEhvDM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.nbair.res.in%25252Finsectpests%25252FHeteracris-littoralis.php&source=iu&pf=m&fir=6lhwcXPemPpwDM%253A%252Cv2aeYFtDFEhvDM%252C_&usg=__Gi1DC0JJC_gmMSW3SWYScT6_5hc%3D&biw=1366&bih=638&ved=0ahUKEwiOwYOk_NjVAhVJ7RQKHW4aC_UQyjcIOA&ei=3sSSWY7aMcnaU-60rKgP#imgrc=6lhwcXPemPpwDM:
Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
1. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  I found a key to the species but it is in French. Among other things the difference between the species is in the number of spines on the tibia, the part of the leg which is not clearly visible here and I am not sure if they can be counted reliably.
  On the other hand Heteracris littoralis is the only one mentioned to be spread on the Arabian Peninsula.
  http://acrinwafrica.mnhn.fr/bases/fiches/Heteracris_genre.html
  However, according to the Orthoptera Species File, other species are reported from Yemen and the United Arab Emirates so maybe it is a matter of research and reporting.
  http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1113841 Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago

AvinashKrishnan

Snow Leopard

Also for some reason, the species identifier doesnt seem to recognize "Heteracris littoralis" Posted 8 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  This happens when there is no match english wikipedia page for the species. In that case, we create the species record manually, you can request that from the same dialog. Posted 8 years ago