Size: 19-26 mm.
General distribution: S. central Canada, S. to Arizona, Texas, and Illinois.
Distribution in New Mexico: Eastern half of state, also Bernalillo, Valencia, Dona Ana, and Grant.
Habitat: Grassland.
Host: Forbs; crop plants, such as alfalfa.
Adults Present: July-September.
Notes: Usually bluish with some yellow markings. Male cerci long and slender; furculae broad and not turned toward each other as in M. pictus; subgenital plate much broader than high when viewed from rear; color yellowish to olive; hind tibiae blue or purple; tegmina long. Can be distinguished from the very similar M. bowditchi only by the aedeagus. Occasionally destructive.
Reference: Helfer 1953, Capinera and Sechrist 1982.
Next Species: Melanoplus foedus
Previous Species: Melanoplus femurrubrum
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