Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Otte (1984), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Pfadt (2002), Capinera et al. (2004), Brust et al. (2008), and Scott (2010). Some references use the common name “Orangelegged Grasshopper.” This is a relatively large, robust bodied grasshopper. Its body color ranges from tan, gray, to grayish-brown, with dark spots and bands. The tegmina (forewings) possess three dark bands, the third distal band sometimes broken or faint. The hind wing disk is yellow, with a black band and short spur, similar to Mottled Sand Grasshopper (S. collare). The posterior margins of the pronotum (thorax) bears a significantly tan area which extends down the lateral sides and ventral edges. The dorsal third of the head is dark, the lower two-thirds pale tan. The median carina (ridge) of the pronotum is low and cut by one sulcus (groove) forward of the middle. The outer face of hind femur is tan with two distinct bands. The inner face is orange with two black bands and knee. The hind tibia is uniformly orange.

Communicative behavior/Crepitation*
Crepitation may or may not occur. Otte (1970) never observed crepitation in this species, whereas Pfadt (2002) reports that “Both males and females usually crepitate in flight.” However, stridulation* does occur by striking one hind femur against the forewings, producing a nearly constant interval between bursts lasting 0.05-0.15 seconds. In aggressive encounters, femur-tipping, femur-shaking, and striking the ground are performed (Otte 1984, Vickery and Kevan 1985, and Pfadt 2002).

*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).

This species overwinters in the egg stage. First nymphs begin to emerge by mid-June. Adults are present from mid-July through September, sometimes into October, depending upon occurrence of killing frost and weather conditions (Otte 1984, Vickery and Kevan 1985, Pfadt 2002, Capinera et al. 2004, and Scott 2010).

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Otte (1984), Vickery and Kevan (1985), Pfadt (2002), Capinera et al. (2004), Brust et al. (2008), and Scott (2010). The body length to end of forewings is 29-43 mm for males, and for females 36-47 mm. Wings extend 5-10 mm beyond the abdominal tip.

In Montana, this species can sometimes be confused with its two other Spharagemon congers, plus species possessing an elevated pronotal crest with deeply cut sulci, such as Carolina Grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina), the two Arphia species and those in the genus Trimerotropis (Otte 1984, Capinera et al. 2004).

The Say’s Grasshopper inhabits grasslands, tallgrass, shortgrass, and mixed grass prairies with patches of bare soil, but seems to favor sagebrush steppe and, especially, wheatgrass-bluegrass communities (Otte 1984, Vickery and Kevan 1985, Pfadt 2002).

This species feeds on a diversity of grasses, sedges, and forbs. Over its geographic range, Blue Gramma (Bouteloua gracilis), appears to be its preferred food. Other favored grasses and forbs include Needle-and-Thread (Stipa comata), Prairie Sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), and milkvetch, Astragalus sp. (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, and Pfadt 2002).

To date, no observations have been reported regarding courtship behavior. Females deposit their eggs into bare soil locations interspersed among grasses. Egg pods are large, measuring 28.6 to 31.7 mm long. The egg holding section inside measures 19 mm long by 4.8 mm in diameter and above the eggs 38 mm of the pod consists of a light brown froth. The pod contains 24-26 light brown eggs, 5 to 5.5 mm long. Nymphs pass through 5 instar stages before reaching the adult stage. The nymphal period is 49 to 64 days, with an average of 55 days (Pfadt 2002).