This represents a creature that occurs in a slightly different habitat from, but often in the same areas as Schistocerca shoshone (which is mostly plain green), and seems distinctly different. It is a puzzle, because the proper name is unclear, and because it occupies a huge range south from Idaho across the west into California, Arizona, and New Mexico (and likely on into northern Mexico). It has apparently now turned up alongside both S. shoshone and now S. albolineata too, distinct, but in the same place. All three are closely related.

It favors both sand dune and rocky sloping or canyon terrain, often in brush (Oak and Dune Broom seem to be favorites). In the Colorado Plateaus regions it has adapted to using Salt Cedar, and occurs abundantly along many desert and lower mountain streamsides and washes where Salt Cedar has become abundant.