Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Capinera et al. (2004), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), and Scott (2010). A small, heavy-bodied grasshopper. It is reddish-brown or grayish-brown dorsally and yellow ventrally. The wings (tegmina) cover three-fourths of the abdomen in males, and two-thirds in females, and sometimes bear dark speckles. Some individuals may occur where the wings extend beyond the abdomen in both males and females. It is a sedentary species and prefers to hide or remain immobile.

Adults occur from late June into mid-October. Helfer (1971), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Capinera et al.(2004), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), and Scott (2010).

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Capinera et al.(2004), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), and Scott (2010). Adult body length for males 17 to 20 mm, females 20 to 25 mm. The outer surface of hind femur is dull yellowish-brown with two or three angled broad dark bends. The hind tibia is a dull red, lighter at the base, with black spines.

Any number of Melanoplus species can be confused with this species without collecting male specimens for genitalia comparisons to make positive identifications.

Prefers open woods and shrub areas, in association with heath plants, Vaccinium, especially open areas with huckleberry and blueberry shrubs. It can also be found under spruce and pine, or on ground-cedar and bearberry. (Brooks 1958, Helfer 1971, Vickery and Kevan 1985, Capinera et al. 2004, and Capinera and Sechrist 1982).

This is a mixed feeder, preferring a variety of forbs (Capinera and Sechrist 1982).

In the southern parts of its range, it has a one-year life cycle (egg to adult). In its northern range and at high altitudes, it often requires 2 or more years to develop. Twenty to twenty-nine eggs are arranged in two columns within an egg pod (Capinera and Sechrist 1982).