Ellipes Pygmy Mole Cricket vs Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ellipes Pygmy Mole Cricket | Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ellipes minuta | Trimerotropis infantilis |
| Order | Orthoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Tridactylidae | Acrididae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 2-3 cm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Central America, South America | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Ellipes Pygmy Mole Cricket
One of the smallest orthopterans in the world, barely visible to the naked eye. It lives in moist sand and mud along tropical waterways.
Did You Know?
At just 3 mm long, it is smaller than many ants and is easily overlooked even by entomologists specifically searching for it.
Zayante Band-winged Grasshopper
A small grasshopper found only in sand parkland habitats in Santa Cruz County, California. It is superbly camouflaged against the grey Zayante sand.
Did You Know?
Its entire world range covers less than 600 acres of sandy habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains.