Species Melanoplus rugglesi - Nevada Sage Grasshopper

Females are difficult to separate from similar species. Males have greatly expanded cerci and short furculae, and within the species' distribution can only be confused with the very closely related M. occidentalis. M. rugglesi usually has a more "even" color pattern with less spotting on the tegmina and bolder more solid black postoccular bars on the pronotum; cerci are somewhat larger and usaully somewhat more squared apically (more evenly rounded in M. occidentalis. The hind tibiae is often more purplish than the blue of M. occidentalis.

These are "average" looking Melanoplus grayish to brownish with red on the inner hind femur and blue (sometimes pinkish) hind tibiae.

Primarily in Great Basin, and Columbia Basin; s. British Columbia to w. Wyoming and south through Utah, and Nevada, into California, nw. Arizona and perhaps w. Colorado. Some peripheral areas may only be occupied temporarily by migrating insects.

Open grasslands and shrublands.

Mixed feeder, but apparently favoring Sagebrush (Artemisia species).

Overwinters as eggs, hatching early in spring with adults maturing early (late May or June) and often gone by mid to late August.

Occasionally this species is abundant enough to be considered of economic concern. It produces a "migratory phase" in which reddish coloring is often pronounced and wings are much longer than in the solitary phase.