More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
Optimized for viewing on desktop or laptop
Grasshoppers of Zihuatanejo
INFRAORDER ACRIDIDEA
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)
-Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids (Order Orthoptera)
-Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Allies (Suborder Caelifera)
-Grasshoppers (Infraorder Acrididea)
-Short-horned Grasshoppers and Locusts (Superfamily Acridoidea)
-Short-horned Grasshoppers (Family Acrididae)
-Stridulating Slantface Grasshoppers (Subfamily Gomphocerinae)
-Tribe Compsacrini
-Genus Silvitettix
In Mexico, grasshoppers of the genus Silvitettix are primarily found in the understory of tropical and subtropical forests. Belonging to the family Acrididae, these grasshoppers are known for their cryptic coloration, often appearing in shades of brown, tan, or dull green to blend in with the leaf litter and low-lying vegetation they inhabit. Unlike the larger, more migratory species, Silvitettix are typically found in humid, shaded environments where they feed on a variety of broad-leaved forest plants. Their presence is a key indicator of healthy forest floor ecosystems, where they serve as an important link in the food chain for small reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Silvitettix Stridulating Slantface
Silvitettix (Genus)
Description
Silvitettix is a genus of small, flightless grasshoppers in the family Acrididae and subfamily Gomphocerinae. Species have compact bodies, reduced wings, short antennae, and relatively powerful hind legs. Males and females can be strikingly different in colour, with males sometimes brightly patterned while females are generally more cryptically brown.
Range
Silvitettix ranges from southern Mexico through Central America and into northern South America. The genus occurs in Mexico and Guerrero and is associated with the warm forest environments of the Zihuatanejo region.
Habitat
Unlike many grasshoppers in the Gomphocerinae, Silvitettix species are associated with humid, shaded woodland and forest environments, including forest paths, understory vegetation, and low-growing plants. Some species occur in wet or montane forest, while others inhabit lower-elevation tropical woodland.
Diet
Silvitettix species primarily feed on grasses (Poaceae), particularly low-growing grasses in the forest understory. Some species feed on bambusoid grasses such as Oplismenus along forest paths and in shaded woodland.