Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Gryllus nubilus Say, 1825. Described from Arkansas River, Colorado
Boopedon flavofasciatum Thomas, 1870. Described from Colorado
Boopedon nigrum Thomas, 1870. Described from Colorado & New Mexico
Boopedon nubilum (Say} McNeill, 1897
Boopedon fuscum Bruner, 1904. Described from Nogales, Arizona
Boopedon hoagi Rehn, 1904. Described from La Joya, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Boopedon nubilum ssp. maculatum Caudell, 1915. Described from Victoria, Victoria County, Texas
Range
Great Plains from near the Canadian border (Alberta, Montana and North Dakota) southward east of the Rockies almost to the Gulf Coast in Texas and into northern Mexico. West across New Mexico and northern Chihuahua into Sonora and Arizona.
Habitat
Mostly areas of rank taller grass within short grass prairies (steppes). They tend to be common along low areas to which extra water drains during rain, along road ditches, bases of slopes, etc.
Season
Overwinter as eggs, with adults in late spring or summer and usually living until after the first frosts.
Remarks
Highly varied in color, but males are usually black with little pattern and females brown with a distinct pattern, though other hues such as grays and greens are not uncommon among females. Black females that look like the males are rare, and typically when found they are actually extremely dark green females (with the green barely showing). Very rarely males can be brown, gray, or green like females, in which case their pattern is similar to the normal female pattern.
Even though males are a fraction the size of females, they are very active, jump active, sort of fly sometimes, and are much more likely to be seen. While females tend to lumber around and stay hidden in the grass.
This can be a very abundant species in some years, being sometimes considered as a pest on grazing lands.
