Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Otte (1981), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), Pfadt (2002), Capinera et al. (2004), and Scott (2010). This species is considered a “harbinger-of-spring,” being one of the first grasshopper to appear as an adult. The body color of most females is green, whereas that of most males is brown (exceptions do occur where the gender colors can be reversed in some individuals). Females are larger than males. The wings are long, extending 2-8 mm beyond the abdomen tip. The pronotum (thorax) is raised roof-or tent-like, forming a strongly elevated carina (ridge) cut faintly by one sulcus. The top of the carina usually has a tan stripe. In dorsal view, the posterior margin of the pronotal disk is extended acutely to a point. The antennae are reddish. The basal area of the hind wing is a pale greenish yellow, merging into a smokey, faded, incomplete band. Inner face of the femur dark blue to black with two tan bands. The hind tibia can be pale brownish, dark brown, blueish-gray or reddish, with a light tan ring near the knee.

Communicative behavior/Crepitation*
Males and females crepitate loudly in flight. Most flights are short, lasting only 1 to 2 seconds, but they are strong fliers. When disturbed they take evasive flights and can cover distances up to 10-30 feet at a height of 6-24 inches. Females often fly twice those distances. When quickly disturbed, they often fly without crepitation, which will slow their speed. To human hearing, the crepitation sound is a soft buzz (Otte 1970, Vickery and Kevan 1985, 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.

This species overwinters in the 4th to 5th instar stage with adults occurring in April (sometimes in late March) and disappearing by early July. First instar nymphs hatch by mid-July to early September. Research indicates that the species’ winter diapause is broken by lengthening daylight hours (photoperiod) rather than by temperature (Otte 1984, Vickery and Kevan 1985, Pfadt 2002, Capinera et al. 2004, Scott 2010).

The following comes from Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Otte (1981), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), Pfadt (2002), Capinera et al. (2004), Schell et al. (2005), and Scott (2010). The body length to the end of the forewings is 18-24 mm for males, and 25-30 mm for females. Femur length for males is 11-12 mm. Number of antennal segments for males 22-24, females 21-25.

Due to the Northern Green-striped Grasshopper’s colors, morphology and early spring occurrence, there should be little, if any, confusion compared to this species’ identification.

Inhabits moist, mid-grass areas. It is more abundant in the grass meadows of the eastern U.S. than in the western prairies, where its distribution is patchy due to favoring small areas which receive stream overflows or irrigation. Patches of Western Wheatgrass (Elymus smithii), growing in swales, around ponds and along streams are favored habitats (Pfadt 2002).

This species mainly consumes succulent grasses but will eat some forbs, especially sowthistle (Sonchus sp). Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratense), is a preferred food. Others include brome, Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum), Western Wheatgrass (Elymus smithii), Quackgrass (Elymus repens), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), and Needleleaf Sedge (Carex duriuscula) (Pfadt 2002, Capinera et al. 2004).

Females are attracted to crepitating males and approach them by flying and crepitating, signaling their receptive response. The pair walk and hop toward each other, both male and female femur-tipping. The male stridulates as he approaches the female. When they touch, the male quickly mounts and copulates. The copulation last 30 to 60 minutes. The female tends to oviposit her eggs on bare, sandy-loam soils, burying the pods 1.25 inches deep. The pods are <1.25 inches long, contain 25 eggs at the bottom half inch with the remaining length hardened with froth. The eggs are light tan, 4-4.5 mm long. The eggs hatch from mid-July to August. The nymphs develop slowly, requiring about 100 days to reach the 4th or 5th instar which overwinter. There is no data regarding how many eggs this species produces in its lifetime. In Montana, this species produces one generation per year (Otte 1970, Pfadt 2002, Capinera et al. 2004).