Montana Field Guide

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Otte (1981), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel(1987), Pfadt (2002). A small to medium colorful grasshopper. In lateral view, a vertical white or ivory stripe runs from the base of the antennae to the top of the mandibles. Another ivory or tan stripe runs from the back of the eye and across the pronotum. In dorsal view, a light stripe runs across the central top of the head onto the pronotum, which is cut with one sulcus (groove), constricted near the middle and bears triangular black markings. The hind femur has 3 oblique black stripes on the outer face and the hind tibia is orange or red.

Overwinters in the egg stage. Nymphs appear in June but can vary depending upon seasonal variations in snow depth, spring meltdown and elevation and their effects on soil temperatures. Adults occur from June to September (Otte 1984, Pfadt 2002, Scott 2010, and Vickery and Kevan 1985).

The following comes from Hebard (1928), Brooks (1958), Helfer (1971), Otte (1981), Capinera and Sechrist (1982), Vickery and Kevan (1985), McDaniel (1987), and Pfadt (2002). Male body length is 14 mm to 17 mm, and females 18 mm to 23 mm. Forewings (tegmina) are long, reaching to near the tip of the abdomen, with prominent dark spots along the lateral field. The abdominal segments bear black markings. However, the color patterns of this species can be quite variable and may differ from the common pattern described.

This species can be confused with its conger the Shasta Slant-faced Grasshopper (Bruneria shastana), and possibly the Club-horned Grasshopper (Aeropedellus clavatus), the Four-spotted Grasshopper (gray-brown form) (Phlibostroma quadrimaculatum), and the Brown-spotted Range Grasshopper (Psoloessa delicatula). Refer to these species to compare diagnostic characteristics. Note: Some Orthoptera texts, field guides, and literature classify this species as Stenobothrus brunneus (Capinera and Sechrist 1982, Otte 1981, and Scott 2010).

Inhabits mixedgrass and bunchgrass prairies, mountain meadows, parklands, and alpine tundra at altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 11,100 feet (Pfadt 2002).

This species is a grass and sedge feeder, but its precise diet depends upon which host plants are available in its widespread habitat. Among favored foods include blue gramma (Bouteloua gracilis), side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), needlegrass, prairie junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), needle-and-thread (Stipa comata), Carex sedges and a host more.

Scant information is available regarding courtship, mating and oviposition for this species. One study however, indicates that oviposition begins about 18 days after the appearance of the adults and continues into late September. There are 2 to 10 eggs per pod with an average of six. Seasonal temperatures greatly influence time of egg laying. The hatching period is short, lasting about 2 weeks. Nymphs pass through 4 instars before reaching the adult stage. Some field observations indicate that this species may have a two-year life cycle in mountain meadow and northern grassland habitats (Pfadt 2002).