Montana Field Guide

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), and Pfadt (2002). A small, dark gray species with body patterns contrasting with pale or tannish gray areas, and sometimes with a greenish tinge. The wings (tegmina) are long reaching approximately to the abdominal tip. The outer face of the hind femur is yellow ventrally with obvious dark crossbands on the upper half. The hind tibia can be buff gray-brown or blue.

Eggs overwinter in the ground and hatch in late spring, around the first week of June. It is among the early hatching Melanoplus species in montane and grassland environments. Adults have been collected in July and August (Pfadt 2002, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

Taken from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), and Pfadt (2002). Male body length 16 to 18 mm, female 20 to 32 mm. The male genitalia cercus is broad throughout and not distinctly narrowed apically but is shallowly emarginate (with a notch or indentation at the tip).

This species is somewhat distinctive but could be confused with other Melanoplus species. Always examine the male genitalia for positive identification.

The Kennicott's Spur-throat Grasshopper inhabits grasslands of mountain meadows, parklands and the western edge of the northern mixed-grass prairies, and can be found at elevations 11,000 to 13,000 feet above timberline (Helfer 1971, and Pfadt 2002).

Feeds on a variety of grasses, sedges, and forbs. Field and lab studies found this species to favor dandelion, prairie chickweed, (Cerastium arvense), three-tip sagebrush (Artemisia tripartita), wild buckwheat, sandwort, and muttongrass, (Poa fendleriana) (Pfadt 2002).

After hatching, nymphs pass through 5 instar stages before the adult stage. An egg pod contains about 12 eggs. Little is known about this species’ courtship and reproductive characteristics (Pfadt 2002).