Montana Field Guide

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Capinera et al. (2004), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Pfadt (2002), Schell et al. (2005), Brust (2008), and Scott (2010). As its name indicates, this is a small species within the Melanoplus genus, but not the smallest. Body color is brownish or gray. The wings (tegmina) are long, extending beyond the abdomen tip and centrally with alternating light and dark spots. The outer face of the hind femur has two oblique pale bands. The hind tibia is pale blue.

Overwinters in the egg stage. Eggs hatch from late May to mid-June and are present from June through August. Adults occur from August through October (Capinera et al. 2004, Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Vickery and Kevan 1985, Pfadt 2002, and Scott 2010).

The following is from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Capinera et al. (2004), Capinera and Secrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Pfadt (2002), Brust (2008), Schell et al. (2005), and Scott (2010). The body length to end of forewings is 14 to 17 mm for males, and 16 to 19 mm for females. The cercus of the male genitalia is diagnostic in shape, being forked with a small thumb-like dorsal projection and slightly curving pointed ventral arm.

Can be confused with the Alpine Grasshopper, (M. alpinus), which possesses a similarly shaped male cercus, but the ventral arm curves more strongly downward and ends in an acute point (Pfadt 2002, and Scott 2010).

The following is taken from Capinera et al. (2004), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), and Pfadt (2002). Generally, inhabits short-grass prairies and montane grasslands from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. Prefers open, treeless, dry, grassy and weedy areas with sandy and gravelly soils. Its northern geographic range and altitudinal distribution indicates that this species has a tolerance for colder temperatures and an intolerance for warmer conditions. It also possesses flight migration instincts and often flies into cities and towns.

Feeds on both grasses and forbs and is polyphagous. Preferred grass species include blue grama, (Bouteloua gracilis), western wheatgrass, (Elymus smithii), needle-and-thread, (Stipa comata) and dropseed. Sedges include thread-leaved sedge, (Carex filifolia), and needleleaf sedge, (Carex duriuscula). Favored forbs include scarlet globemallow, (Sphaeralcea coccinea), woolly plantain, (Plantago patagonica), broom snakeweed, (Gutierrezia sarothrae), fringed sage, (Artemisia frigida), Fendler's sandwort, dandelion, and several species of milkvetch.

After hatching, nymphs pass through 5 instar stages before the adult stage. Egg pods contain 10 to 13 eggs arranged in two columns. Oviposition has been observed to occur in clumps of buffalo grass and in clay soils. There is only one generation per year. No further studies have been made of this species’ courtship and reproduction (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, and Pfadt 2002).

Most of time, the Little Spur-throat exist in small densities. Adults generally remain in the same habitat in which they developed as nymphs. They are subject to outbreaks and can reach higher population densities and are capable of dispersal and migratory flights. Usually found in an assemblage with other species where they can become pests on rangeland grasses (Pfadt 2002, and Schell et al. 2005).