Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Gryllus (Locusta) carolinus Linneaus, 1758, described from Charleston, South Carolina
Acridium carolinum (Linneaus) De Geer, 1773
Locusta carolina (Linneaus) T.W. Harris, 1835
Dissosteira carolina (Linnaeus) S.H. Scudder, 1876
Acridium (Oedipoda) carolinum (Linneaus) S.H. Scudder, 1901
Identification
Color variable: yellowish gray to brown. Sharp ridge on pronotum with one cut. Hind wings black except for yellow along rear margin--distinctive in much of North America, apparently. Hind tibiae yellow. "A strong flier, often seen hovering or in a zig-zag, fluttering flight of courtship."
(1) Appears butterfly-like in flight. Males (mostly) crepitate in flight and stridulate (sing).
Range
Most of 48 United States except southern Florida, southern Louisiana, southern Texas, southwest Arizona, and bottom 2/3rds of California.
(1)Habitat
Found often along roadsides, nearly bare ground.
Season
Mid-summer to fall. May-November (mid-latitudes). Late June-October (Michigan). June-frost (North Carolina).
Food
Grasses, forbs, horsetails (Equisetum).
Print References
Capinera, pp. 88-89, plate 13.
(1)
Capinera, pp. 65-66, plates 42, 43
(2)
Helfer, p. 115, fig. 191
(3)
