Historically considered the most harmful grasshopper species in Argentina, particularly in areas of Buenos Aires and Patagonia (Liebermann, 1972b; COPR, 1982). After several decades of heavy recession in the Pampas region, an outbreak of historical magnitude occurred in 2008-2010 in southern Buenos Aires province with typical aggregation behaviour and swarm-like dispersal flights. Recent studies have shown that only one trait (variation in nymphal coloration) precludes to treat D. maculipennis as a classic or model locust (Mariottini et al., 2015). Major outbreaks continue to occur in western areas of the Patagonian provinces of Neuquen and Chubut.
Polyphagous: gramineous and leguminous plants, cereals, cloves, flax, forestal and fruit trees in nurseries, legumes, vegetables in general, strawberry, ornamental plants. Alfalfa is the main crop affected.