Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Otte (1984), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), Bland (2003), Capinera et al. (2004), Brust et al. (2008). Note: The early literature places this species in the genus Hippiscus. This is a large, light brown to gray grasshopper with extensive dark spotting. The dorsal pronotum (thorax) is flat and heavily sculpted with tubercles which tend to form ridges parallel to the posterior margin. The carina (ridge) is low, distinct, and incised with a sulcus (cut) well forward of the middle. Viewed dorsally, the pronotum is narrow anteriorly and widens posteriorly beyond the sulcus. The tegmina (forewings) bear numerous dark spots. The hindwing disks can be red, orange, or yellow; bordered with a black band and a long spur; the outer edge is transparent. The inner face of the hind femur is unicolorous (no markings) and can be red, orange, or yellow, except for a dark brown crescent at the knee. The hind tibia can be red, orange, or yellow.

Communicative behavior/Crepitation*
Femur-tipping and femur-shaking are the only signals given in this species. During courtship, the males also strike the apical ends of their hind tibias against the ground, producing an audible drumming that can be heard several feet distant. In male aggression encounters, femur-tipping is the main signal, femur-shaking is rare. Crepitation and stridulation* are absent in this species (Otte 1970, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

*Crepitation is the sound produced by grasshoppers making a clicking or snapping noise with their wings when in flight, during courtship, territorial encounters or being disturbed.
*Stridulation is rubbing one body part against another, usually the hind femur against the forewing in the case of the Band-winged Grasshoppers. This is often used for attracting a female during courtship (Otte 1970).

The Haldeman’s Grasshopper overwinters in the 3rd and 4th instar stages in the northern latitudes. Adults occur from mid-June to late August, with their greatest abundance during late-June and early-July (Otte 1984, McDaniel 1987, Brust et al. 2008, and Scott 2010).

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Otte (1984), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), Bland (2003), Capinera et al. (2004), Brust et al. (2008), and Scott (2010). The body length for males is 31-38 mm, and for females 42-53 mm. The females are significantly larger than males.

This species can be confused with its congener, Coral-winged Grasshopper (Pardalophora apiculate). The forewing spotting arrangement easily separates them (refer to that species for comparison). This species is also the only grasshopper in having a unicolorous inner face hind femur (Otte 1984).

Inhabits mostly grasslands, pastures, and open grassy areas. Seldom occurs in tall grass and weedy habitats (Otte 1984, Vickery and Kevan 1985, and Brust et al. 2008).

The Haldeman’s Grasshopper is a grass feeder, with little preference for any particular species (Vickery and Kevan 1985, Brust et al. 2008).

To date, femur-tipping, femur-shaking and audibly striking the ground with the hind tibia are the only signals used by courting males. The nymphs pass through 5 instar stages before reaching the adult stage. Beyond these observations, there are no other reproductive details reported in the literature (Otte 1984, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).