Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Bland (2003), Brust et al. (2008), and Scott (2010). A medium to large, robust grasshopper, with wings (tegmina) speckled dorsally and extending only to the third or fourth abdominal segment and are strongly tapered. Body color is brown to dark brown, sometimes almost blackish. In the field, this species is generally inactive, clumsy, and often remains motionless when approached. However, it is well camouflaged amid open ground or forest litter.

Overwinters in the egg stage. Nymphs occur in spring (month not specified). Adults most common from mid-July to September (Vickery and Kevan 1985, Bland 2003, and Brust et al. 2008).

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Bland (2003), Brust et al. (2008), and Scott (2010). Body length of males 14 to 21 mm, females 17 to 32 mm. Outer face of the hind femur is red ventrally with narrow dark bands on the outer face. The femur inner face is also red, as is the hind tibia red.

Very similar to Dodge's Spur-throat Grasshopper (Melanoplus dodgei) and requires examining and comparing the male genitalia. This species in the “Dodgei group,” and classed by Hebard (1928) as a subspecies M. dodgei huroni (Hebard 1928, Vickery and Kevan 1985).

Inhabits the undergrowth of deciduous and mixed forests near clearings where sunlight penetrates the canopy (Vickery and Kevan 1985, Brooks 1958).

Poorly known, but probably a mixed forb feeder (Brust et al. 2008).

Unknown, currently no studies have been made or discovered in the literature.