when I set up the M. cameronis species page. I don't think they are a distinct species, but I don't know the populations through central Texas well, and am not sure. Otte tends to separate species and elevate subspecies into species based on morphological and particularly behavioral differences, sometimes even if the populations may blend into one-another; while other authors may tend to ignore the differences. I suspect that M. cameronis is at best a weakly-defined regional subspecies (and I sort of ignored it when I called these M. plebejus), but I'm not sure, and Otte did separate them.

Moved from Plebeian Short-wing Grasshopper.

As I understand it, the wing shape, the length of the cerci, and the location near the Rio Grande in Hidalgo County point to this representing Melanoplus cameronis? I suppose at the very least, it is M. plebejus cameronis. RAB

As always, your assistance is much appreciated. This is the second time that Tom and I photographed the same hoppers at the same site. I guess we need to coordinate our schedules.

it looks like these are the first photos posted to BugGuide of Melanoplus plebejus, and perhaps the first ones on the internet. Rarely long-winged, usually with short pointed wings.

The gross similarity to some Melanoplus lakinus and especially Phoetaliotes nebrascensis seems striking to me.

Moved from Melanoplus.