Dissosteira

The combination of large size, slender build, high median pronotal crest cut by one sulcus, and bold hindwing coloration distinguishes Dissosteira from similar genera. The Carolina Grasshopper (D. carolina) is readily identified by black hindwings with pale yellow margins and its characteristic hovering flight over bare ground. D. pictipennis has rose-colored hindwings. The pronotal crest structure separates Dissosteira from Trimerotropis and other Oedipodinae with different crest morphology. Nymphs identified by pronotal shape, facial slope, and hindleg color patterns.

Open grasslands, prairies, and disturbed habitats including roadsides, railway cuttings, field margins, fence rows, and blowouts. Prefers areas with interspersed bare ground and vegetation. Often abundant in weedy grasslands and reseeded rangeland. Some species occupy specific zones: D. longipennis in high plains, D. pictipennis in California annual grasslands.

North America, with species ranging across the United States and southern Canada. D. carolina is the most widespread, occurring across the continent. D. longipennis occupies the High Plains. D. pictipennis is restricted to California. D. spurcata occurs in western states including California and Wyoming.

Species exhibit varying seasonal cycles. D. carolina is an intermediate-hatching species with adults appearing May–July depending on latitude and altitude. D. pictipennis and D. spurcata are early-hatching species with nymphs emerging mid-spring. D. longipennis hatches in late spring. Adults present from early summer through autumn; oviposition occurs late summer to early fall.

Polyphagous, feeding on both grasses and forbs. Diet composition varies with habitat availability. Observed consuming smooth brome, western wheatgrass, wheat, barley, kochia, Russian thistle, dandelion, and native grasses. Also feeds on ground litter and dry plant material. Selects young green leaves over old yellowing foliage.

One-year life cycle (univoltine) with overwintering as eggs in soil pods. Egg pods large, curved, containing 30–70 eggs deposited 1.5 inches deep in compact bare ground. Nymphal development requires 26–55 days depending on temperature and altitude. Five nymphal instars. Adults disperse by flight after wing maturation. Females require extended period (up to 9 weeks) for sexual maturation before oviposition.

Strong, adept fliers. Males perform distinctive hovering flight 3–6 feet above ground for 8–15 seconds, producing soft sibilant sounds, possibly for courtship. Adults frequently fly over bare ground, becoming highly conspicuous. Ground-dwelling, basking on bare soil with side perpendicular to sun and hindleg lowered. Escapes predators by lateral flight at right angles to approach path, exploiting sudden color change from dark wings to cryptic body upon landing. Communicates via visual and acoustic signals—seven visual and seven visual-acoustic signals documented in D. carolina.

Herbivore in grassland ecosystems; contributes to nutrient cycling through consumption and excretion. Minor pest of rangeland; populations may irrupt and disperse to damage crops. Serves as prey for birds, rodents, and insect predators.

Minor agricultural pest. D. carolina occasionally damages rangeland grasses, wheat, alfalfa, tobacco, corn, sorghum, cotton, and beans during outbreaks. Notorious for hovering over dirt roads, creating nuisance and visibility hazard. Attracted to lights at night. Subject of behavioral research on escape strategies and communication.

• TrimerotropisBoth in Oedipodinae with banded wings, but Trimerotropis has different pronotal crest structure (not deeply cut by single sulcus) and different wing patterns.
• ArphiaSimilar large bandwinged grasshoppers with colorful hindwings, but Arphia species typically have different pronotal morphology and produce loud crepitation in flight rather than hovering display.
• SpharagemonBandwinged grasshoppers of similar size, but Spharagemon species have different pronotal crest structure and hindwing color patterns (typically yellow or orange bands rather than solid black or rose).

• grasshopper
• bandwinged
• Oedipodinae
• North America
• pest
• behavioral model organism

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Field Guide
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Carolina Grasshopper
• Risk factors and escape strategy in the grasshopper Dissosteira carolina
• VISUAL AND ACOUSTICAL COMMUNICATIVE BEHAVIOUR IN DISSOSTEIRA CAROLINA (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)
• Uncertainty analyses of the behaviour of the Carolina locust, Dissosteira Carolina (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
• Biological studies ofDissosteira spurcataSaussure with distributional notes on related California species (Orthoptera-Acrididae)