USA: Appalachian grasshopper thought to be extinct rediscovered

In Augusta County, Virginia, USA, an interesting discovery was made: The Appalachian grasshopper (Appalachia hebardi), a species belonging to the family of Acrididae that had been considered extinct for decades, has been rediscovered. The last confirmed sighting of this rare species dates back—depending on the source—either to the 1960s or to the year 1983.

Why was the Appalachian grasshopper considered extinct?

The dramatic decline of A. hebardi populations is closely linked to the widespread use of insecticides, particularly dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), during the 20th century. DDT was used across large parts of the United States until the 1970s to combat invasive spongy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar). The spongy moth, an insect native to Europe and Asia, was introduced to North America near Boston in the late 1860s and has spread ever since. During outbreak years, its caterpillars can defoliate entire forests, preferring deciduous trees such as oaks, birches, poplars, and maples.

The extensive use of DDT to control the spongy moth is known to have caused severe ecological damage. It is likely that populations of A. hebardi were also drastically reduced by the biocidal effects of this pesticide. In addition to direct toxic impacts, the loss of suitable habitats due to forestry practices and increasing landscape fragmentation further contributed to the species’ decline.

In addition, the Appalachian grasshopper is a univoltine species, meaning it reproduces only once per year. A study published in 1987 indicated that this reproductive strategy significantly slows population recovery. Because A. hebardi also lays relatively few eggs, it can regenerate only slowly—a factor that further increases its vulnerability to environmental change and pesticide exposure. Taken together, these circumstances may explain why the species was considered lost for decades.

Rediscovery through citizen science

Due to the lack of systematic surveys after the 1970s, the Appalachian grasshopper was long regarded as extinct—until 2021. The rediscovery did not begin with targeted field studies, but with a chance observation by an amateur naturalist. The species was first documented on the platform iNaturalist, a globally used database for biodiversity observations. This and additional records from Pennsylvania and West Virginia caught the attention of entomologists, including biologist Andrew Rapp, who subsequently began actively searching for the species.

In the following year, Rapp intensified his research and was finally able to confirm a specimen of A. hebardi in September 2022 in Augusta County, Virginia. The discovery resulted from targeted habitat surveys, particularly in blueberry shrubs and on gravel piles that had been identified as potential microhabitats. In an interview with WVTF Public Radio, Rapp described the moment of rediscovery with the words: “I looked her straight in the eyes and thought, ‘Oh! I think that’s her!’”

Habitat, reproduction, and reasons for the long absence

The Appalachian grasshopper is a ground-dwelling, flightless species that inhabits early successional stages of forested habitats with dense shrub and grass vegetation. It prefers elevations between 550 and 1,220 meters and is known for its pronounced escape behavior—when disturbed, it leaps great distances to avoid danger.

A study from 1987 suggests that the long absence of A. hebardi may in part be due to its slow reproductive rate. The species passes through five larval instars before reaching adulthood. Females lay an average of two egg clutches per season, each containing up to 14 eggs, meaning that a single grasshopper produces a maximum of around 42 eggs in its lifetime. Compared to other spur-throated grasshoppers, this is a relatively low reproductive output. Combined with habitat loss and insecticide use, this may have contributed to the species being considered lost for decades.

Another factor is its limited seasonal activity. According to historical data from the original description in 1936, A. hebardi appears no earlier than the first week of July and remains active until early September. More recent observations, however, show that it can occur until mid-October. It was noted that some females had already begun laying eggs in September, while others had not yet developed mature eggs at that time. This raises the question of whether the species is adapted to cooler temperatures and aging vegetation, or whether some females fail to reproduce at all due to a shortened growing season.

Implications for conservation

The rediscovery of the Appalachian grasshopper highlights how little is known about the long-term persistence of many insect populations. Despite decades of apparent absence, the species survived—a strong argument for the importance of protecting natural habitats. Increased attention to this rare grasshopper could help to systematically document remaining populations and secure them over the long term.

At the same time, this finding underscores how essential it is to systematically monitor poorly studied species in order to develop effective conservation measures. Another example of a rediscovery is that of a cicada species rediscovered in 2024 after 100 years thanks to citizen science.

Sources

• Bellinger, R. G., Pienkowski, R. L. (1987). Life history observations on the grasshopper Appalachia hebardi Rehn and Rehn (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Melanoplinae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 89(1): 43–46.
• Rehn, J. A. G., Rehn, J. W. H. (1936). On new or redefined genera of Nearctic Melanopli (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Cyrtacanthacridinae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society 62(1): 1–56.
• WVTF Public Radio. (2025). Appalachian grasshopper, thought to be extinct, rediscovered in Augusta County.