Grasshoppers of Wyoming and the West
Entomology
Montane Grasshopper
Melanoplus montanus (Thomas)
Melanoplus montanus, the montane grasshopper, is a grasshopper historically reported from Yellowstone
National Park and the Bighorn Mountain Range in Wyoming. It was first collected from
Yellowstone near Mammoth Hot Springs and the Norris Pass localities by Morgan Hebard
and James A. Rehn in August of 1904. They described it as a predominately dark brown
colored, short-winged grasshopper that is a ".distinctly mountainous species that
is found only on the higher hillsides." Adults were collected by PPQ in mid to late
June, 2012 on grassy hillsides in Yellowstone Park at elevations abouve 7000 feet.
It is likely to feed on grasses but because of its limited distribution, is not expected
to cause economic damage in Wyoming and is not considered a pest species.
Ref: Rehn and Hebard 1906.
Distribution Atlas Links
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