Background

The Dissosteira genus of grasshoppers, part of the family Acrididae, includes four species of North American grasshoppers known for their cryptic coloration and strong flying ability. Among these, four closely related taxa - Dissosteira carolina, Dissosteira longipennis, Dissosteira pictipennis, and Dissosteira spurcata – are often distinguished based solely on external morphological features, specifically coloring, banding, and markings on the wing. While traditional taxonomic identification has relied on morphological analysis, these characteristics can overlap across species, especially in regions with overlap. Morphological similarities raise questions about the accuracy of current species designations and whether these groups represent distinct evolutionary lineages or are simply phenotypic variants within a single species complex.

Molecular approaches have become increasingly important in systematics. Mitochondrial DNA, particularly the cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) gene, has been widely used in insect phylogenetics due to its relatively rapid rate of evolution, maternal inheritance, and lack of recombination. The COII gene is effective in resolving relationships at the species level and clarifies evolutionary patterns that morphology alone cannot detect. By comparing COII gene sequences across Dissosteira individuals collected from different geographic locations, researchers can better identify patterns of genetic divergence.