Moved from Hadrotettix.

Hi, This is not H. magnificus. I have over the years seen hundreds of H. magnificus and thousands of H. trifasciatus. The two species are very similar, but after seeing so many one tends to know them like you might know your own brother or sister - on sight. This one is generally smaller, but appears stockier due to a proportionately slightly smaller head and shorter wings. The dark bands across the tegmina are narrower and sharper (usually) as well. The hind tibiae of both are orange/red, but in this one the inner hind femur has the base blue (the bulk is black). In H. magnificus it is red at the base (but again most is black). You don't notice the blue or red on the femur unless you catch them and look closely. Also, I grew up in ne. Colorado, and I've never seen H. magnificus up there, nor in Nebraska. In Colorado it ranges north to around Burlington and to somewhere between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. However, H. trifasciatus is very common in ne. Colorado. Where the two are found together, H. magnificus is inclined to fly long distances, and it is difficult to catch, while H. trifasciatus tends to make short low flights, and is quite easy to catch. At high elevations female H. trifasciatus tend to have particularly short wings, and often don't fly at all. Neither one makes any noise when they fly (other than russling of the air).

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This looks like the Three-banded Grasshopper, Hadrotetrix trifasciatus, or the similar Magnificent Grasshopper, Hadrotetrix magnificus. Both would appear to be found in that area, looking at range maps. Do you have any photos showing the inside of the hind leg (femur)? The base is supposed to be orange in H. magnificus, blue in H. trifasciatus. References:

• Capinera, Field Guide to Grasshoppers, pp. 91-92, plate 14--illustrations of both species
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• Wyoming Grasshopper Fact Sheets--H. trifasciatus
• another fact sheet--H. trifasciatus

I don't see any images on the web of H. magnificus. The illustrations in Capinera show the two species as quite similar, except for that mark on the inside of the hind femur (largest part of the leg). Patrick Coin Durham, North Carolina