Cyrtacanthacridinae

Distinguished from other Acrididae subfamilies by the presence of a prominent prosternal peg or tubercle between the forelegs. Differs from Melanoplinae (spur-throated grasshoppers) in genitalic structure and wing venation. Locust species within the subfamily are identified by their capacity for density-dependent phase transformation, though this requires rearing or population observation rather than single-specimen examination. Species-level identification relies on male genitalia (aedeagus, cerci, furcula) and wing patterns.

Primarily tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and agricultural regions. Many species inhabit semi-arid and arid zones. Locust species occupy broad breeding areas that may span multiple countries, with recession zones in remote semi-desert or desert areas where populations persist at low densities between outbreaks.

Worldwide distribution with concentration in tropical and subtropical regions. Particularly diverse and economically significant in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Australia, and the Americas. The tribe Cyrtacanthacridini has worldwide distribution; other lineages show more restricted ranges.

Activity patterns vary by species and climate. In temperate regions, adults present in summer months. In tropical regions, activity may be year-round with peaks during rainy seasons. Locust species show outbreak dynamics with unpredictable population surges rather than fixed seasonal patterns.

Herbivorous, feeding on grasses and forbs. Specific host plant associations vary by species and locality. Many species are polyphagous, with diet composition shifting based on vegetation availability. Some species show feeding discrimination in laboratory conditions.

Hemimetabolous development with egg, nymph (typically 5-6 instars), and adult stages. Egg pods deposited in soil contain multiple eggs. Nymphal development duration varies with temperature, typically 30-60 days under favorable conditions. One generation annually in temperate regions; multiple generations possible in tropical regions. Locust species exhibit phase polyphenism where high-density conditions trigger developmental and behavioral changes producing gregarious, migratory morphs.

Most species are sedentary with limited dispersal. Locust species exhibit extreme density-dependent behavioral plasticity: solitary individuals are cryptic and avoid conspecifics, while gregarious individuals aggregate, march in bands (nymphs) or fly in swarms (adults), and migrate long distances. Evasive flight in non-locust species is typically short, low, and silent. Basking behavior observed in some species for thermoregulation.

Primary consumers in grassland and agricultural ecosystems. Population outbreaks can dramatically alter vegetation structure and nutrient cycling. Serve as prey for birds, reptiles, and mammals. Locust swarms represent massive transfers of biomass across landscapes and can impact food webs at regional scales.

Among the most economically important insect pests globally. The desert locust, red locust, and related species cause devastating agricultural damage during outbreaks, threatening food security in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Control programs have historically involved extensive insecticide application; modern Integrated Pest Management approaches (e.g., RAATs—Reduced Agent and Area Treatments) aim to reduce economic and environmental costs. Some species are consumed as food in certain cultures.

• MelanoplinaeAlso called 'spur-throated grasshoppers' but lack the prominent prosternal peg characteristic of Cyrtacanthacridinae; distinguished by different male genitalic structure and wing venation patterns.
• CatantopinaeAustralian region subfamily with some convergent morphologies; nymphs can be confused but adults distinguished by genitalic and wing characters.
• OedipodinaeBand-winged grasshoppers with different wing coloration patterns and stridulatory mechanisms; hind wings typically brightly colored.

• locust
• pest
• phase polyphenism
• grasshopper
• agriculture
• migration

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Field Guide Selected References
• Glossary
• Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Species Records and Accounts
• Little Spurthroated Grasshopper
• Phylogeny of bird‐grasshopper subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and the evolution of locust phase polyphenism
• Description of Schistocerca cohni n. sp. and redescription of  S. socorro (Dirsh) (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae) from Mexico
• The life history of the grasshopperOrnithacris turbida(Walker) (Orthoptera; Acrididae; Cyrtacanthacridinae) in the laboratory
• Laboratory studies on the effect of crowding on phase and the life history ofSchistocerca pallens(Thunberg) (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae)
• Chromosome study in Schistocerca (Orthoptera-Acrididae-Cyrtacanthacridinae): karyotypes and distribution patterns of constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolus organizer regions (NORs)
• Some behavioral and biological traits under rearing conditions of Bryophyma debilis (Karsch) (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Cyrtacanthacridinae), a grasshopper from Burkina Faso