Orthoptera of North Carolina
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View Acrididae Members: NC Records

Leptysma marginicollis (Serville, 1838) - Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper

Taxonomy
Family: Acrididae Subfamily: Leptysminae Tribe: Leptysmini
Comments: One of five species in this genus (Roberts, 1977) and the only one found in North America north of Mexico; the rest are Neotropical.
Species Status: Roberts (1977) recognized three subspecies, of which only L. m. marginicollis occurs in the East.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Capinera et al. 2004Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Blatchely (1920); Rehn and Eades (1961); Roberts (1971)                                                                                  
Comments: A slender, elongate "toothpick" grasshopper. The general color is tan, variably shaded with greenish or purplish, and with a narrow white or yellowish lateral stripe extending from the head to the sides of the abdomen. Stenacris vitreipennis is similar but is usually a darker, more uniform green with an ivory lateral stripe. The structural features described below offer more reliable identification cues.
Structural Features: The head is relatively long in this species, usually as long or longer than the pronotum. The antennae are flattened and ensiform and the fastigium is broadly triangular and relatively long, often as long as the eye. In contrast, Stenacris has a head that is shorter than the pronotum, has a short and rounded fastigium, and has more slender, non-ensiform antennae.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Adult Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We have records from a wide variety of wet, herbaceous habitats, including marshes, savannas, pond and lake shorelines, and wet fields and powerlines. Rehn and Eades (1961) mention that it sometimes occurs in dry broomsedge fields, at least where they border their more typical wetland habitats.
Diet: Wetland graminoids and possibly other herbaceous species of wetland plants (e.g., cattails)
Observation Methods: Usually sticks fairly close to herbaceous cover, relying on camouflage to avoid detection. When flushed, it normally flies back into its preferred sedgy habitats rather than up into shrubs, as is often the case with Stenacris.
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology: Adults overwinter and can be generally found throughout the year; juveniles mature in late summer (Rehn and Eades, 1961)
See also Habitat Account for General Sedge, Grass, and Rush Mires
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 S5
State Protection:
Comments: This species is common in the eastern half of the state and occurs in a wide range of wet, open, herbaceous wetlands, including some that are fairly disturbed.

Image Gallery for Leptysma marginicollis - Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper

Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones
Polk Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Nash Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Nash Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger
Wilson Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Taylor
Beaufort Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Pender Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Edgecombe Co.
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Recorded by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: F. Williams
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: E. Corey
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chris Helms
Columbus Co.
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Recorded by: Chris Helms
Columbus Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: FKW, SBW
Gates Co.
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