Common Groundhopper vs Xya Pygmy Mole Cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Groundhopper Xya Pygmy Mole Cricket
Scientific Name Tetrix undulata Xya pfaendleri
Order Orthoptera Orthoptera
Family Tetrigidae Tridactylidae
Size 8-11 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Heathland Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Northern Asia Southern Europe, Mediterranean
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Groundhopper

A tiny, dark pygmy grasshopper whose pronotum extends backward over the entire abdomen like a shield. It is active year-round and can even be found basking on bare ground in midwinter.

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Did You Know?

It overwinters as an adult and can be found active on warm days in every month of the year, even January.

Xya Pygmy Mole Cricket

A minute European pygmy mole cricket typically found on bare sandy ground near rivers. It is so small it is often confused with a small beetle.

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Did You Know?

It has tiny paddle-shaped appendages on its hind legs that serve as hydrofoils for skipping across water surfaces.