Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Acrididae Members: NC Records

Dendrotettix zimmermanni (Saussure, 1861) - Zimmermann's Dendrotettix

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Taxonomy
Family: Acrididae Subfamily: Melanoplinae Tribe: Podismini
Comments: One of three species in this genus that occur in North America north of Mexico (Cigliano et al., 2018), two of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Species Status: This species was originally described by Saussure in 1861 based on a single female collected by C. Zimmerman somewhere in the Carolinas, most likely South Carolina (Rehn and Rehn, 1936). Male specimens were finally collected by Friauf (1957) from Satullah Mountain in Macon County, North Carolina. Based on the multiple diagnostic characters found in these specimens, Friauf was able to clarify the relationships among the three members of this genus, particularly the distinctions between zimmermanni and australis, which had been uncertain previously.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: OSF (photographs of the male specimen collected by Friauf in 1948); the two photos of adults on BugGuide both appear to represent D. australis, based on the red coloration of the hind femora, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Friauf (1957)                                                                                  
Comments: A small, short-winged (flightless) Melanopline Grasshopper. Friauf describes the males as similar to those of D. australis, but lighter. A dark brown postocular stripe is present, extending along the upper lateral lobes of the pronotum and continuing down the sides of the abdomen; dark spots are also present on the top of the head. The front and lower sides of the head are pale greenish white as are most of the dorsal surface of the head, pronotum, and abdomen. The lower portion of the lateral lobes of the pronotum are cream colored. The front and middle legs are bright green, but the hind femora are yellowish-brown. Unlike D. australis, the lower and inner face of the hind femora are yellowish green rather than the coral red found in australis. Booneacris is somewhat similar in body color and it possessing green legs. However, it is completely wingless. Members of the Viridipes Group of Melanoplus are also similar, but differ in structural features (see below).
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: <20 mm, males (Friauf); 25-28.5 mm, females (Rehn and Rehn, 1936)
Structural Features: Smaller in all measurements than D. australis. The tegmina in zimmermanni are small and elliptical -- somewhat more so than in australis (Friauf, 1957). The tegmina of members of the Viridipes Group of Melanoplus are much broader (but still brachypterous) and either come close to touching dorsally or substantially overlap. Males can be separated from those of australis by their supra-anal plates, which are longer than wide (about equal in australis); by their shorter furculae that are narrower at the base; and by distinctive differences in the internal genitalia. Females likewise can be distinguished by differences in their ovipositors (see illustrations and descriptions in Friauf, 1957).
Nymphal Stages and Development: Undescribed
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)

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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is arboreal and appears to be strongly associated with High Elevation Northern Red Oak Forests.
Diet: Strongly associated with Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) (Friauf, 1957)
Observation Methods: Probably best found on the ground beneath Northern Red Oaks following strong wind-storms
Abundance/Frequency: We have too little information to estimate either the frequency of occurrence or abundance of this species
Adult Phenology: Records for adults range from July to September
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: SR
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GU S1?
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: This species appears to be both a narrow endemic and strong habitat specialist. There appear to be very few records for this species, all of which are historic. Although there is no reason to think that it has become extirpated from North Carolina, the existing information suggests that it be considered to be of significant conservation concern.