Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Hewitt and Skoog (1970). Body color gray, mottled with brown and black on the dorsal surface of the head and anterior part of the pronotum and reddish on the posterior part. The ventral surface of the abdomen is pale yellow. The posterior of the abdominal segments are also reddish. Outer surface of the hind femur pale with 3 black transverse bars dorsally. These are sometimes indistinct. It is yellow ventrally. The hind tibia is grayish blue, mottled with dark brown to black at the bases. The spines are black with pale at the bases. The abdomen curves upward at its tip.

Specimens collected latter half or July into September (Hewitt and Skoog 1970).

Taken from Hewitt and Skoog (1970). A small, considered flightless, species. Male body length 16 mm, female 16.5 mm. Wing (tegmina) is short, reaching to the 3rd (or slightly beyond), abdominal segment.

Could be confused with any of the short to mid-winged length Melanoplus. Examine male genitalia for certainty. Presently, the limited species’ range and habitat should be considered for identification and occurrence.

Collected in sagebrush steppe ecosystems with exposed knolls and ridges with sparse vegetation of milkvetch (Astragalus), bird's-foot and big sagebrush, saltbush, rubber rabbitbrush, (Ericameria nauseosa) and greasewood, (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) (Hewitt and Skoog 1970).

Little known, but probably prefers forbs. Caged specimens fed readily on narrowleaf milkvetch, (Astragalus pectinatus), Bird's-foot Sagebrush, (Artemisia pedatifida), and four-wing saltbush, (Atriplex canescens) (Hewitt and Skoog 1970).

Unknown