Orthoptera of North Carolina

Family (Alpha):

View	Acrididae Members:	NC Records
Hippiscus ocelote (Saussure, 1861) - Wrinkled Grasshopper

Taxonomy

Family: Acrididae	Subfamily: Oedopodinae	Tribe: Hippiscini	Synonym: Hippiscus rugosus
Comments: Only one species is currently recognized in this genus (Cigliano et al., accessed 5-2025).

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Capineira et al. (2004)	Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images, iNaturalist, GBIF	Technical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Blatchley (1920); Otte (1984)
Comments: This is a medium-large, yellowish-brown, band-winged locust. Its head is conspicuously large and bulbous. The dorsal field of the pronotum has a pale, X- or W-shaped mark. The tegmina are yellowish-brown and heavily spotted with black, including on the dorsal field and along the sides. The hindwings are often yellowish but occasionally pink or reddish. The hind femurs are banded on both the inner and outer surfaces; the hind tibiae are yellowish. Pardalophora phoenicoptera is similar in its protonum and tegmina, but has a much smaller head and is usually not as yellowish in general coloration. Its hindwings are typically orange or red rather than the yellow frequently found in Hippiscus. It also has a characteristic blue shade on the inner face of the hind femur that is not found in Hippiscus.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 28-40 mm, males; 39-53 mm, females (Capineria et al., 2004)
Structural Features: The pronotum is granulated or ridged, with a low median ridge but lacking lateral carinae.
Singing Behavior: Otte (1970) observed stridulation by males but did not observe any crepitating flights
Nymphal Stages and Development: Nymphs can be distinguished by their very large heads

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: This species occurs in areas of low, sparse herbaceous vegetation, often occurring in pastures (Blatchley, 1920; Capineira et al., 2004). Most of our records come from disturbed or ruderal areas.

Diet: Feeds mainly on grasses and can occasionally become a pasture pest (Capineira et al., 2004)

Observation Methods: Best found by flushing when walking through its habitats

Abundance/Frequency: Our populations appear to be fairly sparse, although Capineira et al. (2004) state that it can occasionally become a pasture pest

Adult Phenology: Adults are observed primarily in the summer

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status: None

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: None

Comments: Although relatively uncommon, its use primarily of disturbed areas provides at least some protection to its habitats, unless frequently mowed or maintained with pesticides.

Image Gallery for Hippiscus ocelote - Wrinkled Grasshopper
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Richmond Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Richmond Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Scotland Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Mark Basinger Scotland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik Chatham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Harnett Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Stephen Hall Harnett Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Anderson, E. Corey Wake Co. Comment:	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: FKW Gates Co. Comment:

Hippiscus ocelote (Saussure, 1861) - Wrinkled Grasshopper

Image Gallery for Hippiscus ocelote - Wrinkled Grasshopper