Montana Field Guide

Body dark brown dorsally, yellowish-brown ventrally. Wings (tegmina) ovate and shorter than pronotum (Hebard 1928, Helfer 1971, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

Adults have been found August and September. No additional seasonal data has been reported (Vickery and Kevan 1985).

Body length for males 18 to 19 mm, females 22 to 24 mm (Hebard 1928, Helfer 1971, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

This species is similar to others in the "Indigens group", such as Oregon Spur-throat (M. oregonensis), M. marshalli, and their subspecies. For accurate identification, examining and comparing the genitalia is necessary. The species M. missoulae is now a subspecies M. indigens missoulae, which is known only from Missoula, MT (Hebard 1928, Helfer 1971, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

The Indigene Spur-throat inhabits areas of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and fir with grass, wild strawberry, sagebrush, and thickets of wild rose and Spirea. It occurs in small colonies at altitudes ranging from 3600 to 9200 feet (Helfer 1971, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

Not studied

Not studied, but probably similar to that of other short-winged alpine Melanoplus species (Vickery and Kevan 1985).