Schistocerca americana

Definition

A large grasshopper species in the family Acrididae, native to eastern North America, Mexico, and the Bahamas. Adults are strong fliers with two generations per year in southern regions; nymphs and adults feed on grasses and agricultural crops including citrus, corn, and soybeans. Though occasionally called a locust and capable of localized outbreaks, this species lacks the density-dependent phase polyphenism that produces the swarming migratory form seen in its congener Schistocerca gregaria, the desert locust.

Etymology

Latin schistos (divided, cleft) + Greek kerkos (tail), referring to the forked male supra-anal plate; americana indicates New World distribution.

Example

In Florida, S. americana populations surge following hurricane disturbances that open canopy and promote grass growth, leading to economically significant defoliation of young citrus trees.

Synonyms

• American grasshopper
• American bird grasshopper

Related Terms

• Schistocerca gregaria
• Acrididae
• locust phase polyphenism
• grasshopper outbreak
• Orthoptera

Usage Notes

The common name American bird grasshopper reflects the species' powerful flight and tendency to alight in trees; however, this habit is distinct from arboreal orthopterans in families such as Tettigoniidae. The term locust is applied colloquially to this species during outbreak years, but specialists reserve locust for species with documented density-dependent gregarization and migratory behavior. Several subspecies have been described (e.g., S. a. cubense, S. a. socorro) based on insular and regional populations, though their taxonomic validity varies.