Key to the Subfamilies of Acrididae Occurring in the Southeastern United States
Modified from Otte 1981, and Triplehorn and Johnson 2005.
1. | Prosternum with median spine or tubercle | ...2 |
1'. | Prosternum without a median spine or tubercle | ...4 |
2 (1). | Usually very large species (35-65 mm long); mesosternal lobes usually longer than wide; inner margin of mesosternal lobe of sternum angulate | ...Cyrtacanthacridinae |
2’. | Smaller species (usually less than 40 mm long); mesosternal lobes wider than long, inner margin of mesosternal lobe of mesosternum rounded | ...3 |
3 (2’) | Elongate or robust species; face rounded; antennae thin and filliform, inner margins of mesosternal lobes not touching, apex of wings usually rounded | ...Melonoplinae |
3’ | Elongate, slender species, with slanted faces and broad, ensiform antennae, inner margins of mesostrnal lobes touching; apex of wings pointed | ....Leptysminae |
4 (1’). | Inner face of hind femora with a row of stridulatory pegs (except Stethophyma) | |
4’ | Inner face of hind femora without a row of stridulatory pegs | ...5 |
5 (4’). | Forewings obliquely truncated at apex, usually more pronounced in males, and without intercalary vein; face moderately to strongly slanted; hind wings transparent or faintly tinged with color, but never having a dark or smoky band, and always having enlarged cells near the leading edge | ...Acridinae (1 species, Metaleptea brevicornis (Johannson) |
5’ | Forewings rounded at apex and with raised intercalary vein; face usually more vertical; hindwings often possessing banded or brightly marked with yellows, oranges, reds, or blacks, smoky black in some species, and never with enlarged cells near the leading edge | ...Oedipodinae |