Disjunct distribution of Hesperotettix speciosus (Orthoptera, Acrididae) from the Black Belt Prairie of Alabama, United States

Abstract

Inventories of the flora and insect fauna of the Black Belt Prairie of Mississippi and Alabama have documented disjunct populations of species broadly distributed in the Great Plains, including two grasshopper species. During a recent survey of a large privately-owned prairie remnant in Sumter Co., Alabama, we documented a disjunct population of a third grasshopper species — Hesperotettix speciosus, extending the known distribution of this species significantly eastwards. The discovery of this population is surprising due to the number of previous survey efforts of the Black Belt, Alabama and Mississippi overall and exemplifies the importance of conservation on private lands.

Keywords

• Western green grasshopper
• showy grasshopper
• blac