Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Acrididae Members: NC Records

Schistocerca damnifica (Saussure, 1861) - Mischievous Bird Locust

Taxonomy
Family: Acrididae Subfamily: Cyrtacanthacridinae Tribe: Cyrtacanthacridini
Comments: One of about 50 species of New World locusts, with only the Migratory Locust found in the Old World (Song, 2004). Six species are found in North Carolina.
Species Status: This species is the sole member of the Damnifica Species Group (Song, 2004).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Capineira et al. (2004)Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIF                                                                                  
Comments: The entire body is rusty brown, with slight mottling on the tegmina (Song, 2004). The median carina of the pronotum yellow to orange and is distinctly elevated. The antennae are shorter than the length of head and pronotum and are weakly ensiform.
Structural Features: The tegmina are slightly longer than the tip of abdomen (Song, 2004)
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
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Diet:
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Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection:
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Image Gallery for Schistocerca damnifica - Mischievous Bird Locust

Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Richmond Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall
Scotland Co.
Comment: In dry longleaf sandhills habitat
Recorded by: Steve Hall
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Hoke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: C. Helms, K. Futch, J. Davis, J. Sasser, T. Crate
New Hanover Co.
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Recorded by: ASH
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Bertie Co.
Comment: Abdomen distended, probably after laying eggs
Recorded by: Newman, Randy
Carteret Co.
Comment: