Chemical taxonomic studies of cuticular hydrocarbons in locusts of theSchistocerca americana complex (Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae): Chemical relationships between new world and old world species.

Genetics studies gave an insight into the evolutionary systematics of theS. americana complex. Chemical analysis and comparison of the cuticular hydrocarbons of five species of this complex (S. gregaria, cancellata,americana, piceifrons, andpallens) confirmed the species status previously established by hybridization and also revealed new elements. We have shown the existence of two groups of species:S. gregaria andS. cancellata on one hand,S. americana andS. piceifrons on the other.S. pallens does not fit into either of these groups. These analyses thus have shed some light on the possible origins ofS. gregaria vis-à-visS. cancellata for which an explanation is proposed.