Montana Field Guide

The following is from Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Brust et al. (2008), and Scott (2010). General body color is olive, yellowish to red brown. Wings (tegmina) are long, extending to or beyond the abdomen tip and uniform in color with no speckling. Outer face of hind femur is yellow with two upper dark bands, and reddish below. Inner hind femur yellow to orange yellow. Hind tibia is blue or purple. In some texts, this species is also called “Blue-legged Grasshopper.”

Overwinters in the egg stage. Eggs hatch in early June. Adults appear in mid to late June and are present to mid-September (Capinera and Sechrist 1982).

Medium sized grasshopper. The body length to end of forewings is 20 to 26 mm for males, and females 25 to 32 mm. For identification certainty, examine the male genitalia and aedeagus, which has a cupped-shaped depression at the tip (Brooks 1958, Helfer 1971, Vickery and Kevan 1985, Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Brust et al. 2008, and Scott 2010).

Very similar to, and difficult to distinguish from the Sagebrush Grasshopper (M. bowditchi). Best way to separate the two species is to examine their aedeagus or by habitat (Brooks 1958, Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Brust et al. 2008).

Prefers sparsely vegetated grassy areas in sandy soils, blowout areas and yucca clumps (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, and Brust et al. 2008).

Considered forbivorous, preferring sunflowers and western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), as well as lead plant (Amorpha canescens), white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana) and goldenrod. It resorts to grasses only when forbs are in short supply. At such times, it may start feeding on alfalfa (Medicago sativa), cabbage, plum, and cherry leaves (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, and Brust et al. 2008).

After hatching, this species passes through 5 nymphal instars. Egg pods contain 14 eggs arranged in two or three disorderly columns (Capinera and Sechrist 1982).