Grasshoppers of Alabama (species list)
JoVonn Hill
Dr. Matt Dakin is responsible for most of the knowledge about the grasshopper fauna of Alabama, and is presented in Dakin and Hayes (1970). However, since the publication of that volume, several taxonomic changes have been made and three additional species have been documented within the state. As part of an ongoing study of the grasshopper fauna of the southeastern U.S., reliable literature records were gathered to identify what species had been previously documented from each state. The annotated list below contains 74 taxa that have been documented in Alabama followed by whether specimens from the state are present in the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) and the literature records documenting the species in the state. This list will be updated with more literature and species records as the fauna of Alabama is studied more intently and to reflect taxonomic changes.
The list is currently arranged taxonomically by subfamily and then alphabetically within each subfamily. Taxonomy follows Eades et al. (2010).
GomphocerinaeAchurum carinatum (Walker): MEM, Morse 1904, Blatchley 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981, Hill 2007
Amblytropidia mysteca (Saussure): MEM, Morse 1907, Blatchley 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981, Hill 2007
Dichromorpha elegans (Morse): Morse 1904, Dakin and Hays 1970
Dichromorpha viridis (Scudder): MEM, Morse 1904, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981
Eritettix simplex (Scudder): MEM, Morse 1907, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981
Mermiria bivittata (Serville): MEM, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981
Mermiria picta (Walker): Blatchley 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981
Orphulella pelidna (Burmeister): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981, Hill 2007
Orphulella speciosa (Scudder): MEM, Morse 1907, Blatchley 1920, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981 Hill 2007
Syrbula admirabilis (Uhler): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981, Hill 2007
Acridinae
Metaleptea brevicornis (Johannson): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, Rehn and Hebard 1916, Blatchley 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1981, Donato and Cigliano 2000
Oedipodinae
Arphia granulata (Sassure): Dakin and Hays 1970
Arphia sulphurea (Fabricius): MEM, Morse 1907, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Arphia xanthoptera (Burmeister): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Chortophaga austrailor Rehn & Hebard: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984
Chortophaga viridifasciata (DeGeer): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Dissosteira carolina (Linnaeus): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Hippiscus ocelote (Saussure): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, Blatchley 1920, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Pardalophora phoenicoptera (Burmeister): MEM, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Psinidia fenestralis (Serville): MEM, Rehn 1919, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984
Spharagemon bolli Scudder: MEM, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984, Hill 2007
Spharagemon cristatum (Scudder): MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984
Spharagemon marmorata picta (Scudder): MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984
Spharagemon saxatile Morse: MEM
Trachyrhachys kiowa (Thomas): MEM, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Trimerotropis maritima (Harris): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1957,Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 1984
Trimerotropis saxatalis McNeil: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Leptysminane
Leptysma marginicollis (marginicollis Serville): MEM, Rehn and Eades 1961, Dakin and Hays 1970
Stenacris vitreipennis (Marschall): Rehn and Eades 1961, Dakin and Hays 1970, Roberts 1978
Cyrtacanthacridinae
Schistocerca alutacea Harris: Morse 1907, Hubbell 1960, Dakin and Hays 1970, Song 2004
Schistocerca americana (Drury): MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Schistocerca damnifica (Saussure): MEM, Blatchley 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Schistocerca obscura (Fabricius): USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Song 2004
Melanoplinae
Aptenopedes sphenariodes apalachee Hebard: MEM, Hebard 1936, Dakin and Hays 1970
Campylacantha olivacea (Scudder): USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970,
Dendrotettix australis (Morse): Morse 1906, Morse1907, Rehn and Rehn 1936, Friauf 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970,
Eotettix hebardi Rehn: Dakin and Hays 1970,
Eotettix pusillus Morse: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Gymnoscirtetes morsei Hebard: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Hesperotettix gemmicula Hebard:Dakin and Hays 1970
Hesperotettix viridis brevipennis (Thomas): MEM, Morse 1907, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Melanoplus alabamae Hebard: Hebard 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970,
Melanoplus bispinosus Scudder: Dakin and Hayes 1970
Melanoplus bivitttatus (Say): MEM, Morse 1907, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Melanoplus cantralli Dakin: MEM, Dakin 1966, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus carnegiei Morse: Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus decoratus Morse: Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus delaware Hebard: Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus differentialis differentialis (Thomas): MEM, Roberts 1942, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Melanoplus femurrubrum (DeGeer): MEM, Morse 1904, USDA 1956, Dakin and Hays 1970, Dakin 1985, Hill 2007
Melanoplus femurrubrum x propinquus: MEM, Dakin 1985, Hill 2007
Melanoplus gracilis (Bruner): MEM, Hebard 1935, Dakin and Hays 1970, Otte 2002
Melanoplus hubbelli Hebard: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus impudicus Scudder: MEM, Morse 1907, Gurney 1941, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus keeleri keeleri (Thomas): MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Melanoplus nigrescens (Scudder): Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus primestivus Dakin: MEM, Dakin 1966, Hill 2007
Melanoplus propinquus Scudder: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970, Dakin 1985
Melanoplus punctulatus arboreus Scudder: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus pygmaeus Davis: MEM
Melanoplus querneus Rehn and Hebard: Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus sanguinipes vulturnus Gurney and Brooks: MEM, Morse 1904, Morse 1907, USDA 1957, Gurney and Brooks 1959, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007
Melanoplus scudderi scudderi (Uhler): MEM, USDA 1957, Dakin and Hays 1970, Hill 2007,
Melanoplus similis Morse: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus strumosus Morse: MEM, Morse 1907, Hubbell 1932, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus symmetricus Morse: MEM
Melanoplus tepidus Morse: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus tribuloides Morse: Morse 1906, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus tribulus Morse: MEM, Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus tunicae Hebard: Dakin and Hays 1970
Melanoplus walshii Scudder: Dakin and Hays 1970
Paroxya atlantica Scudder: MEM, Blatchley 1920, Dakin and Hays 1970
Paroxya hooseri (Blatchley): Dakin and Hays 1970
Romaleidae
Romalea microptera (Beauvois): MEM, Morse 1907, Rehn and Grant 1959, Rehn and Grant 1961, Dakin and Hays 1970. Hill 2007
Literature Cited
Blatchley, W. S. 1920. The Orthoptera of Northeastern America: With Special Reference to the Faunas of Indiana and Florida. Nature Publishing Company, Indianapolis, IN. 784p
Dakin, M. E. 1966. Two new species of Melanoplus from Alabama (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Entomological News 77: 29-36
Dakin, M. E. 1985. A review of the Melanoplus femur-rubrum group (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae) in the southeastern United States. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 111: 385-398.
Dakin, M. E. and K. L. Hays 1970. A Synopsis of Orthoptera (Sensu Lato) of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 404. 118pp.
Donato, M, and M. M. Cigliano. 2000. Revision of the Genus Metaleptea Bruner von Wattenwyl (Orthoptera; Acrididae; Hyalopterygini) Transactions of the American Entomological Society 126: 145-173.
Eades, D. C., D. Otte, M. M. Cigliano, and H. Braun. 2010. Orthoptera Species File Online. Version 2.0/4.0. Accessed February 2011. <http://Orthoptera.SpeciesFile.org>
Friauf, J. J. 1957. Clarification of the species in the genus Dendrotettix (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Cyrtacanthacrinae). Florida Entomologist 40: 127-139.
Gurney, A. B. 1941. Taxonomic and bionomic notes on the grasshopper Melanoplus impudicus Scudder (Orthoptera: Acrididae) The American Midland Naturalist 26: 558-569.
Gurney, A. B. and A. R. Brooks. 1959. Grasshoppers of the Mexicanus group, genus Melanoplus (Orthoptera: Acrididiae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum 110: 1-93.
Hebard, M. 1920 New species and genera of Melanopli found within the United States Part III (Orthoptera: Acrdidae) Transactions of the American Entomological Society 46: 355-403
Hebard, M. 1935. New Genera and species of Melanopli found within the United States and Canada (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Parts V-VI. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 60: 337-390.
Hebard M. 1936. New genera and species of the Melanopli found within the Unied States and Canada (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Parts VII - IX. Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 62:167-222
Hill, J. G. 2007. The grasshopper (Orthoptera: Romaleidae: Acrididae) fauna of Black Belt Prairie remnants in Alabama and Mississippi. Journal of Orthoptera Research 16: 139-144.
Hubbell, T. H. 1932. A revision of the Puer group of the North American genus Melanoplus, with remarks on the taxonomic value of the concealed male genitalia in the Cyrtacanthacrinae. (Orthoptera, Acrididae). University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Miscellaneous Publication 23. 64 pp.
Morse, A. P. 1904. Researches on North American Acrididae. Carnegie Institute of Washington publication 18. 1-55. ill
Morse, A. P. 1906 New Acridiidae from the southern states. Psyche 13: 119-122.
Morse, A. P. 1907. Further researches on North American Acrididae. Carnegie Institute of Washington publication 68. 1-54. ill
Otte, D. 1981. The North American Grasshoppers Volume I: Acrididae: Gomphocerinae and Acrididae. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. 275 pp.
Otte, D. 1984. The North American Grasshoppers Volume II. Harvard University Press. Cambrigde. 366 pp.
Otte, D. 2002. Studies of Melanoplus. 1. Review of the Viridipes group (Acrididae: Melanoplinae). Journal of Orthoptera Research 11: 91-118.
Rehn, J. A. G. 1919. Description of new and critical notes upon previously known forms of North American Oedipodinae. First Paper. Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 45: 229-255.
Rehn, J. A. G. and D. C. Eades. 1961. The tribe Leptysmimi (Orthoptea; Acrididae; Cyrtacanthacridinae) as found in North America and Mexico. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 113. 81-134.
Rehn, J. A. G. and H. J. Grant. 1959. A review of the Romaleinae (Orthoptera: Acrididae) found In America north of Mexico. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 111: 109-271.
Rehn, J. A. G. and H. J. Grant. 1961. A Monograph of the Orthoptera of North American (North of Mexico) Volume I. Monographs of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 12: 1-257.
Rehn J. A. G. and M. Hebard. 1916. Studies in the Dermaptera and Orthoptera of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 87: 87-314.
Rehn J. A. G. and J. W. H. Rehn On new or redefined genera of Nearartic Melanopli. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 1-30
Roberts, H. R. 1942. Two subspecies of Melanoplus differntialis and related new species from Mexico with discussion of their variations. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 154: 151-166
Roberts, H, R. 1978. Revision of the tribe Leptysmini except the genus Cylindrotettix (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Leptysminae) Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia 129: 33-69.
Song, H. 2004. Revision of the Alutacea group of genus Schistocerca (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97: 420-436.
USDA. 1956. Cooperative economic insect report. 6: 597-1150
USDA 1957. Cooperative economic insect report 7:50-480.
