Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Acrididae Members: NC Records

Melanoplus scudderi (Uhler, 1864) - Scudder's Short-winged Locust

Melanoplus scudderiMelanoplus scudderi
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. This species is member of the Scudderi Species Group described by Jovonn Hill (2015), along with Melanoplus coreyi.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Capinera et al. (2004)Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Hill (2015)                                                                                  
Comments: A small, short-winged Melanoplus. The body is grayish-brown to gray, with the most conspicuous mark the piceous black stripe that runs from behind the eye along the lateral field of the pronotum just below the carina. The dorsal field of the hind femur has three dark spots and the hind tibae are a bright red. This species is indistinguishable externally from other members of the Scudderi Group, including Melanoplus coreyi which is possibly sympatric with scudderi in the Fall-line Sandhills. Dissection of males is required to distinguish these two species.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 14.5 - 24.0 mm (mean = 19.7, males; 16.0 - 26.8 mm (mean = 22.6), females (Hill, 2015)
Structural Features: Species in this group can be only distinguished based on the shape of the aedeagus, which must be dissected in order to be viewed
Structural photos
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: Successional fields and ruderal areas with abundant old field forbs and grasses
Diet: Polyphagous, feeding on both forbs and grasses
Observation Methods: Can be flushed by walking through its habitat
Abundance/Frequency: This species can be fairly common in the fall but is usually not seen in large numbers at any one place
Adult Phenology: There appears to be only a single brood per year in North Carolina, with adults emerging at the end of the 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 scudderi - Scudder's Short-winged Locust

Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger and Donald Zepp
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Stanly Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Stanly Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Rowan Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wayne Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Cabarrus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan
Jones Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jason Brown
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: L. Amos
Vance Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey, J. Vann
Cumberland Co.
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Recorded by: E. Corey, J. Vann
Cumberland Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: F. Williams, S. Williams
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Franklin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Montgomery Co.
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Recorded by: FKW
Gates Co.
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