Locust-misnomer

Guides

• Schistocerca americana

  American grasshopper, American bird grasshopper

  Schistocerca americana is a large grasshopper native to eastern North America, Mexico, and the Bahamas. Adults reach 4.5–5.5 cm in length, with yellow-brown bodies and pale wings marked with large brown spots. The species exhibits temperature-dependent color polyphenism in nymphs, producing green, yellow, or red forms with black patterning influenced by thermal conditions. Two generations occur annually, with adults overwintering rather than eggs. Though occasionally called a 'locust' during localized outbreaks, it lacks the true swarming morph of its congener S. gregaria.

  grasshopperagricultural-pestpolyphenismpolyphagousoverwintering-adultcaeliferinsFlorida-citrus-pestlocust-misnomerOrthopteraNorth-America