A male that looks to be the same thing, from not far away, was just posted. I'm going to give them their own category until I (hopefully) can put a species name to them. I'm thinking more likely a distinct species than a hybrid, now.

Moved from Probable Hybrids.

Moved from Unidentified Long-winged Melanoplus Grasshoppers.

I'm not sure what this is. It reminds me of M. nigrescens; however, the markings are "off", the wings should not be so long, and hind tibiae should be red; plus, I think it would probably not be in this area. It reminds me a little of M. keeleri, but doesn't fit that very well either. M. clypeatus looks similar, but is plainer in pattern, again should have red hind tibiae, and should be only closer to the coast. M. ponderosus is similar, but should be only further west (and again typically has red hind tibiae). I may just not be recognizing it, but I suspect it really is something odd. I'm wondering if it might be a hybrid of something like M. differentialis X M. walshii (if such a thing is even possible). For now, I'm putting it under the genus heading, and I'll stare at it there a while longer. Too bad it's not male, that would (perhaps) make it easier to identify.

Moved from Spur-throated Grasshoppers.