Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Acrididae Members: NC Records

Melanoplus divergens Morse, 1904 - Divergent Melanoplus

Melanoplus divergens
Taxonomy
Family: Acrididae Subfamily: Melanoplinae Tribe: Melanoplini
Comments: Melanoplus is our largest genus of Orthopterans, with over 350 species occurring in North America (Cigliano et al., 2017). 38 species have been recorded in North Carolina. Placed in the Mancus Species Group by Hebard (1937), which in North Carolina also includes serrulatus (celatus was included in this group by Hebard and sylvestris by Blatchley, neither is included by Cigliano et al.).
Species Status: The type locality is Balsam, NC (probably from Jones Knob, given the elevation of 5,000-6,000 ft. given by Morse, 1904)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: OSF, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Blatchley (1920); Hebard (1937)                                                                                  
Comments: A small, short-winged (flightless) Melanoplus. Like other members of the Mancus Group, divergens is dark reddish brown above and yellowish below, with a dark post-ocular stripe, dark patches on the abdomen, and red hind tibiae (Morse, 1904; Blatchley, 1920). The most distinctive features are the cerci (see below), which must be included in photographs of this species in order for the identification to be confirmed.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 9-10 mm, males; 11-20 mm, females (Blatchley, 1920)
Structural Features: The shape of the cerci is diagnostic: somewhat boot-shaped, with a lower "heel"-like projection and an apical rounded, and sub-falcate "toe". The furculae are stout and about as long as the last abdominal segment. The tegmina are shorter than the pronotum and are ovate or somewhat lanceolate, touching in the male but widely separated in the female (Blatchley, 1920).
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: Morse (1904) collected 33 specimens in blueberry thickets and other low shrubbery in deciduous forests and clearings at 5'000-6,000'.
Diet: Undescribed
Observation Methods: Probably best found by flushing it by walking through its habitat
Abundance/Frequency: From Morse's description, this species appears to be abundant locally
Adult Phenology: Adults have been recorded from June to October
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: SR
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G2G3->[GH] SH
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: This species is a near endemic to the high mountains of North Carolina (the only site recorded outside North Carolina is Rabun Bald in Georgia). All of our records are historic, with the most recent coming from 1938. With records from less than 10 sites globally, this species is one of our rarest and is at possible risk due to the effects of global climate change.

Image Gallery for Melanoplus divergens - Divergent Melanoplus

Recorded by: B.B. Fulton
Jackson Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen		 Recorded by: B.B. Fulton
Haywood Co.
Comment: NCSU specimen