Species Melanoplus arizonae - Arizona Spur-Throat Grasshopper

Melanoplus arizonae S.H. Scudder, 1878. Described from Arizona

Melanoplus palmeri S.H. Scudder, 1897. Described from Ft. Whipple, Yavapai County, Arizona

Melanoplus sanguineus Bruner, 1904. Described from Lamar, Colorado

Melanoplus scitus S.H. Scudder, 1902. Described from La Trementina, San Miguel County, New Mexico

Melanoplus arizonae is similar to M. sanguinipes. Averages more boldly and brightly patterned, but coloration is highly variable. Less likely to be greenish/bluish. Less likely to have a solid dark bar on thorax behind eyes. Averages larger (though size varies with location and environmental conditions). Male subgenital plate usually not notched at the tip (sometimes it is slightly). Male furculae and cerci longer with apical end spooned out a bit and somewhat bent inward. Hump underside of male thorax a bit larger, and more often present in female.

Tip of male abdomen

Southern Great Plains, Southern Rockies, Colorado Plateaus, Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert, etc. Utah to Kansas, south into Mexico.

Mostly dry grasslands, occasionally open grassy woodlands or grassy patches in desert.