Common Cone-headed Grasshopper vs Common Globe-Thistle

Acrida ungarica compared with Echinops sphaerocephalus

Key Differences

• Common Cone-headed Grasshopper is Least Concern while Common Globe-Thistle is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Cone-headed Grasshopper	Common Globe-Thistle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Orthoptera (Orthoptera)	Afrosoricida (Afrosoricida)
Family	Acrididae	Tenrecidae
Genus	Acrida	Echinops
Species	Acrida ungarica	Echinops sphaerocephalus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Cone-headed Grasshopper and Common Globe-Thistle share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common Cone-headed Grasshopper

LC — Least Concern

Common Globe-Thistle

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Cone-headed Grasshopper	Common Globe-Thistle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Cone-headed Grasshopper

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Common Globe-Thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (19 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia).

Common Cone-headed Grasshopper

<em>Acrida ungarica</em>, commonly known as the common cone-headed grasshopper, is a large grasshopper in the family Acrididae. This species is notable for its distinctively elongated, conical head that gives it a slender, streamlined appearance. It typically inhabits open grasslands, meadows, scrublands, and the margins of wetlands, where tall grasses provide both food and cover. <em>Acrida ungarica</em> is a phytophagous species that feeds primarily on grasses and other herbaceous plants. Its coloration varies from green to brownish-yellow, offering effective camouflage in its grassy habitat. The species is distributed across parts of Europe and western Asia. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with no major threats identified to its populations. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Common Globe-Thistle

<em>Echinops sphaerocephalus</em>, commonly known as the common globe-thistle or great globe-thistle, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. The species has a distribution spanning Europe, North America, and Oceania, with naturalization in several regions outside its native southern and central European range. <em>Echinops sphaerocephalus</em> typically inhabits dry, open, and disturbed habitats including roadsides, waste ground, rocky slopes, and steppe grasslands, where it is well adapted to poor, well-drained soils. It produces distinctive spherical, steel-blue flower heads that are highly attractive to pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, making it a valued plant in native garden planting and ecological restoration. The species is not currently evaluated for conservation status. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. <em>Echinops sphaerocephalus</em> is a robust, spiny plant that can grow to considerable height and spreads readily in suitable open habitats. Its ornamental qualities and pollinator value have contributed to its deliberate planting in gardens and public green spaces beyond its native range.