Orthoptera of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):

View	Acrididae Members:	NC Records
Schistocerca damnifica (Saussure, 1861) - Mischievous Bird Locust

Female

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	Technical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Blatchley (1920)
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 dorsal field of the tegmina usually is pale whitish to tan, contrasting with the darker brown lateral surfaces.
Structural Features: The antennae are shorter than the length of head and pronotum and are weakly ensiform. 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

Habitats: Although sometimes observed in pocosin shrubs, it is more often found on the ground in fairly open areas. Most of our records come from pinelands, where its brown coloration and orange and pale mid-dorsal streaks blend in with the pine leaf litter. The largest concentrations appear to be associated with sand ridges dominated by Longleaf Pine, including sites that are frequently burned. In the western part of the state, it is usually associated with old field habitats or clear cuts.

Diet:

Observation Methods: Usually spotted on the ground, where relies on its camouflage. It is more reluctant to fly than American Locusts or members of this genus associated with shrub thickets. Consequently, it is fairly easy to capture using sweep netting.

Abundance/Frequency: Can be common but usually does not occur in dense populations

Adult Phenology: Appears to be bivoltine in North Carolina. Adults overwinter, with mature individuals observed in December and January in the Coastal Plain and March in the Piedmont

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection:

Comments:

Image Gallery for Schistocerca damnifica - Mischievous Bird Locust
	Recorded by: Steve Hall, David George, and Jeff Niznik Richmond Co. Comment: Female	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Hyde Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Hyde Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Brunswick Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Onslow Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Johnston Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Richmond Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Wilson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wayne Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wayne Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Wayne Co. Comment:	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. Comment: Female	Recorded by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Hunter Phillips Onslow Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Hoke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: C. Helms, K. Futch, J. Davis, J. Sasser, T. Crate New Hanover Co. Comment:	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:

Schistocerca damnifica (Saussure, 1861) - Mischievous Bird Locust

Image Gallery for Schistocerca damnifica - Mischievous Bird Locust