Orthoptera of North Carolina
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Hesperotettix viridis brevipennis (Thomas, 1874) - Short-winged Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper


Adult female
Taxonomy
Family: Acrididae Subfamily: Melanoplinae Tribe: MelanopliniSynonym: Hesperotettix brevipennis
Comments: One of nine species in this genus, all of which are confined to North America (Cigliano et al., 2017). Only H. viridis brevipennis has been recorded in North Carolina.
Species Status: Hesperotettix brevipennis has been treated as a separate species by many authors in the past, e.g., Thomas (1874), Scudder (1897), Blatchley (1920), and Morse (1920). Rehn and Hebard (1916) -- while using the species name brevipennis -- concluded that there was intergradation between the short-winged form originally described by Thomas and the long-winged form described by Scudder (1897) as pratensis, at least in Arkansas. Consequently, they treated both as subspecies of brevipennis. Cigliano et al. (2017) currently treat brevipennis and pratensis as subspecies of H. viridis, which was originally described by Thomas (1872) based on a form found in the Western United States, now treated as a third subspecies. We follow Cigliano et al. in this regard, although only the short-winged form has been found in North Carolina and conforms in other respects to Thomas' original description of brevipennis. As far as we know, no modern taxonomic analysis of this complex has been done, using either internal male genitalia or molecular genetics, both of which should help clarify the relationship of these taxa.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Photographs: BugGuide, Google Images,  iNaturalist, GBIFTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Blatchley (1920)                                                                                  
Comments: A bright green, medium-sized, short-winged (flightless) grasshopper. A pale whitish or yellowish line runs from the base of the eye to the mandible and another runs around the back of the eye, joining a similar line running along the dorso-lateral side of the pronotum, with a whitish streak continuing along the same line on the tegmina. Shorter pale streaks occur on the sides of the prothorax and above the legs on the sides of the meso- and meta-thorax, all of which are accented with black. The marking most distinctive of brevipennis (Thomas, 1874) is a streak of reddish orange that runs along the dorsal carina of the pronotum; in subspecies pratensis, this streak is typically whitish and bordered by black streaks that are not present in brevipennis. The femurs of the fore- and middle legs are also orange or salmon and a similarly colored streak, bordered by white, extends along the upper side of the hind femur. The dorsal surface of the tegmina and abdomen are also rufus in a least some specimens. In North Carolina, only the two species of Dichromorpha have forms that are similar in size, wing-shape, and green coloration but lack all of the additional markings of brevipennis, although both possess a narrow streak of white and brown along the lateral carina of the pronotum.
Structural Features: The wings of both sexes extend only about one half or two thirds the length of the abdomen, whereas in the other two forms of H. viridis, the wings typically extend to the end of the abdomen or farther. In discussing the intergradation between brevipennis and pratensis, Rehn and Hebard (1916) only mention wing length, but do not mention either the differences in coloration of the mid-dorsal streak on the pronotum, nor the shape of the rear margin of the pronotum, used as a key character by Blatchley (1920) in separating these forms: rounded in brevipennis but angled in pratensis. In our specimens of brevipennis, however, this margin is rounded in some but angled in others. Scudder (1897) gave as additional differences between brevipennis and pratensis, its more regularly conical cerci, slight differences in the shape of the supra-anal plate, and smaller size. However, we have not been able to compare our specimens to those from other areas to determine their value.
Nymphal Stages and Development: Not described
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: In North Carolina records come primarily from wet longleaf-pine dominated habitats, including Wet Pine Savannas in the Outer Coastal Plain and Sandhill Seeps in the Fall-line Sandhills. The habitat was not described for one historic specimen collected at Carolina Beach State Park by B.B. Fulton (listed by Brimley, 1938) but this area supports an extensive area of longleaf pine sandhills interspersed with many small depression ponds. Overall, the habitats occupied by the North Carolina populations correspond well with the cranberry bogs where brevipennis was recorded in New Jersey (by Uhler, cited by Thomas, 1872 and Scudder, 1897). However, other specimens have been collected elsewhere along the Atlantic Slope associated with bunch grasses (Andropogon and Schizachyrium sp.) growing in dry upland habitats (Morse, 1904; Rehn and Hebard, 1916).
Diet: Usually observed perched on wetland graminoids in North Carolina, but not observed feeding on them. The western Hesperotettix viridis viridis is oligophagous, feeding on shrubby species of Composites, especially on Snakeweed (Brust et al., 2014). Whether our populations are similarly associated with Composites or other forbs needs to be determined.
Observation Methods: This species is diurnal and can be flushed into making short jumps by walking through its habitat.
Abundance/Frequency: Appears to be highly localized, with only a few individuals observed when found
Adult Phenology: Our records for adults all come from June
See also Habitat Account for Longleaf Pine Woodlands with Isolated Pools
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: W3
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SU
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: Although described in the 1870s, brevipennis appears to have been rarely found along its range along the Atlantic Slope. In North Carolina, only a few populations have been recorded and all in association with specialized and declining habitats. Although more needs to be learned about its distribution, habitat associations, host plants, and taxonomy, this species seems at least possible to qualify as a species of significant conservation concern and should therefore be closely monitored.

Image Gallery for Hesperotettix viridis brevipennis - Short-winged Meadow Purple-striped Grasshopper

Recorded by: Stephen Hall
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Corey
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B.B. Fulton
Pender Co.
Comment: NCSU Insect Museum specimen