Insect · GBIF taxon 1707262
Mischievous Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca damnificaAlso known as Carolina Locust
Mischievous bird grasshoppers are sturdy, mottled-brown insects readily identified by their distinctly arched, high-crested pronotums. Unlike many grasshoppers that pass the cold months solely as underground eggs, adults often overwinter under leaf litter and become active on warm, sunny winter days. When disturbed in brushy pastures, they flush with sudden, powerful leaps and short fluttery flights before diving back into hiding.
HerbivorousCamouflagedOverwintering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Grasses
- Forbs
- Shrub foliage
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Small rodents
- Robber flies
ThreatsHabitat conversion, intensive mowing, and broad-spectrum pesticide spraying
HabitatsOld fields, open pine woodlands, sandy pastures, and forest margins
Life span9–12 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderOrthoptera
- FamilyAcrididae
- GenusSchistocerca
- SpeciesSchistocerca damnifica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Approaching: Step lightly through dry grass to avoid startling adults into taking flight.
- Spotting: Look closely among fallen pine needles and dried leaves where their mottled coloring provides camouflage.
- Handling: Gently cup with both hands to examine the pronotum crest without pinching the fragile hind legs.
Predator (c) Jonathan Eisen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonathan Eisen · cc-by
Close Relative Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth! / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Minnehaha850, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Bobby McCabe, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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