Species Melanoplus yarrowii - Yarrow's Grasshopper

Similar to M. differentialis, but with no herringbone pattern on hind femur and with red hind tibiae. Usually there is a narrow dark stripe back from the eyes onto the pronotum and there are often at least faint diagonal dark bands across the outside of the hind femur. Similar to M. bivittatus and M. thomasi, but the markings on the hind femur are very different - no dark lengthwise racing stripes - (eastern M. bivittatus are a often bit more similar), and there are not two prominent pale stripes along the back. Also, M. bivittatus has shorter hind "feet".

One noticeable characteristic of this species is the "clown feet" of especially the males. The hind tarsi are almost half as long as the hind femur. Those of M. differentialis are almost as long.