Genus Schistocerca - Bird Grasshoppers

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Remarks · Works Cited

Rusty Birdwing - Schistocerca rubiginosa - female

Obscure Bird Grasshopper - Schistocerca lineata - female

Bird grasshopper nymph, bright yellow - Schistocerca - female

I think this is just a common grasshopper...but may be something more specific. - Schistocerca obscura

Schistocerca obscura adult female - Schistocerca obscura - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids)

Suborder Caelifera (Grasshoppers)

Family Acrididae (Short-horned Grasshoppers)

Subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Bird Grasshoppers)

Genus Schistocerca (Bird Grasshoppers)

Explanation of Names

Schistocerca Stål 1873

Greek 'split tail' (in this case referring to cercus)

Numbers

13 spp. in our area, ~50 total(1)(2)

Identification

Prosternal process present, mesosternal lobes longer than wide

Some species vary greatly in color/pattern and can look very similar. Reliable image-based ID may be impossible, especially in the Alutacea Group (S. albolineata, alutacea, lineata, obscura, rubiginosa, & shoshone).

Range

New World, mostly neotropical, with one Old World species (Sch. gregaria)(1)

Remarks

The locust of the biblical plagues (well-known and dreaded throughout the Middle East and Europe in ancient times) is Sch. gregaria, the only Old World member of this genus(1). North American species are much less prone to swarming.

Works Cited

1.	Revision of the Alutacea Group of genus Schistocerca (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae). Song, H.J. 2004. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97(3): 420-436.

2.	Orthoptera Species File Online

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Chuck Entz, David Ferguson, v belov, Chuck Sexton, metrioptera, Arturo Santos
Last updated 23 December, 2024 - 10:49am

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