Dissosteira longipennis

Adults are distinguished by large size (male wingspan 2.5–3.4 inches, female 3.3–4 inches), pale tan forewings with numerous large brown spots, and conspicuous black hindwings with a transparent outer margin and fuscous spots. The pronotum has a high median crest deeply incised once. The hind femur inner surface is yellow with two large dark markings; the hind tibia is golden. Nymphs show a high pronotal crest and tan body with brown spots; older nymphs develop golden hind tibiae.

Shortgrass prairie dominated by blue grama and buffalograss, with interspersed midgrasses (western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread, sand dropseed, red threeawn, galleta), sedges, forbs, and bare ground. Favorable sites feature sandy loam soils with gentle slopes that absorb rainfall and support abundant midgrasses alongside shortgrasses.

North American shortgrass prairie; recorded from Colorado, New Mexico, Texas Panhandle, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Historical outbreak range extended more widely during the 1934–1940 swarm period. Currently restricted to isolated favorable habitats, with a known extant population in Otero County, Colorado.

Intermediate-hatching species; first instars emerge two to three weeks after Aulocara elliotti, typically mid-May to early June. Hatching period lasts 11–18 days, extendable to 30 days with cold weather. Nymphal development requires 44–45 days. Adults appear June–July; females require 6–7 weeks before first oviposition (late July–August).

General grass feeder. Consumes short grasses (blue grama, buffalograss) and midgrasses (sand dropseed, needle-and-thread, galleta hilaria, western wheatgrass). Two-choice tests show equal preference for sand dropseed, needle-and-thread, and galleta hilaria compared to blue grama; western wheatgrass is consumed less. Feeds from ground level, often on grazed stems and low leaves.

Eggs are deposited in large pods (1–2 inches long, slightly curved) containing 32–84 eggs (average 65), laid 2 inches deep in bare ground around grass plant edges. Egg beds range from 0.5 to 200 acres. Nymphs undergo 5 instars in New Mexico/Texas, 6 instars in Colorado. Adults form mating aggregations; males court by femur-tipping and vibratory stridulation.

Primarily ground-dwelling, spending most hours resting horizontally on bare ground. Basks in morning by turning side perpendicular to sun and lowering hindleg to expose abdomen. Thermoregulates by stilting, facing into or away from sun, and climbing grass to raise body above hot soil. Disperses from egg beds as nymphs (up to 2,000 per square yard), with first instars moving 3 ft/min, late instars over 10 ft/min. Adults make initial short flights (25–several hundred yards), then migrate in huge swarms taking high, long flights (10–37 miles/day, mainly northwest with prevailing winds). Flushed flight usually silent, occasionally with soft wing rustling.

Herbivore in shortgrass prairie ecosystem. During outbreaks, can completely consume grasses and crops, altering vegetation structure and competing with livestock for forage. Serves as prey for birds, rodents, and predatory insects.

Major agricultural pest during historical outbreaks (1890–1891, 1934–1940), causing complete forage loss and forcing ranchers to sell herds. Swarms destroyed wheat, barley, corn, and millet fields. Now very rare with no swarming since 1940; no current economic impact. Subject of extensive USDA research; comprehensive life history published as Technical Bulletin 1167 (1958).

• Dissosteira carolinaSimilar genus and band-winged morphology; D. longipennis distinguished by larger size, golden hind tibia (vs. reddish-brown in D. carolina), and more extensively spotted forewings.
• Melanoplus spretusOther North American locust species, now extinct; D. longipennis remains extant and can be distinguished by banded wings and Oedipodinae subfamily characteristics.

• locust
• grasshopper
• pest
• shortgrass prairie
• North America
• outbreak
• swarming
• rare
• Oedipodinae
• Acrididae

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• High Plains Grasshopper
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• List of Species Fact Sheets| Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado
• Grasshoppers of Colorado