Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Acrididae Members: NC Records

Melanoplus differentialis (Thomas, 1865) - Differential Locust

Melanoplus differentialis
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.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIF                                                                                  
Comments: A large, long-winged Melanoplus. The body is usually yellowish- to greenish-brown, with unmarked tegmina. The dark lateral stripe characteristic of most members of this genus is poorly developed to absent. The hind tibiae are yellow and the herringbone pattern of dark bars on the hind femur is diagnostic.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 28-37 mm, males; 34-50 mm, females (Capineira et al., 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: Found in open, herbaceous fields, often in wet areas.
Diet: Polyphagous, preferring broad-leafed forbs but also feeding on grasses. Can be a pest species of cultivated crops.
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology: Single brooded, with adults appearing in mid-summer
See also Habitat Account for General Successional Fields and Forblands
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection:
Comments:

Image Gallery for Melanoplus differentialis - Differential Locust

Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Alamance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Alamance Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Alamance 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: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Sampson Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Becky Watkins
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
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Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: V. Jones
Iredell Co.
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Recorded by: Karyn Cook
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof
Burke Co.
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Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Jones Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: G. Schneider
Iredell Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Duplin Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Bladen Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Alleghany Co.
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Recorded by: Jason Brown
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof
Surry Co.
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Recorded by: J. Anderson
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: H.Smith, M.Windsor
Dare Co.
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Recorded by: Newman, Randy
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Brunswick Co.
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Recorded by: Scott Bolick
Forsyth Co.
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