Montana Field Guide

The following is taken from Capinera and Sechrist (1982),Capinera et al. (2004), Pfadt (2002), Scott (2010), Vickery and Kevan (1985).This is a small to medium sized grasshopper. It is pale, grayish green, with short-wings. Under magnification, the body can be seen to be speckled with brown spots. A broad green band extends from behind the eye onto the lateral lobe of the pronotum and the sides of the meso and metanotum (thorax). In overall color, it matches its host plant where it usually rests.

Overwinters in the egg stage and is a seasonally late-developing grasshopper. Eggs hatch and nymphs begin to appear in early June. Adults are present from July to October, but most abundant in July and August (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Capinera et al. 2004, Pfadt 2002, Scott 2010).

Body size for males 15-17mm, females 17-22 mm. The forewings (tegmina) are short and pointed, but long winged individuals have been reported in females. The wings are a uniform green. Hind tibiae are blue green. The pronotum is slightly wider posteriorly (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Capinera et al. 2004, Pfadt 2002, Scott 2010, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

Could be confused with a slantfaced grasshopper, Gomphocerinae, due to the front angle of its head, but the diagnostic ventral spur between the front legs will indicate otherwise (Scott 2010).

It has an irregular distribution due to its dependence upon habitats where white sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana) and rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) occurs (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Pfadt 2002, Vickery and Kevan 1985).

The Cudweed Grasshopper is considered monophagous, as it feeds almost exclusively on white sagebrush. It does eat other species in the genus Artemisia as well as trace amounts of various grasses and forbs. It is the only species of grasshopper able to survive on white sagebrush exclusively (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Capinera et al. 2004, Pfadt 2002).

The following is taken from Capinera et al. (2004), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), and Pfadt (2002). The nymphs develop through 5 instars. No information relative to sexual maturity and courtship have been recorded. The female digs a hole for egg oviposition in interspersed bare areas. While digging she holds onto some upright plant, stands erect, holds her femora high, and remains in a vertical position while depositing her eggs. Twelve eggs are in two columns per pod. Adults remain in the same habitat where the eggs hatch and the nymphs develop which indicates this species’ ties to white sagebrush distribution.