Narrow-winged Spur-throat Grasshopper

A medium-sized grasshopper, measuring 20-30mm in length. Females tend to be larger than males. The slender-winged species can resemble Melanoplus sanguinipes, the narrow-winged grasshopper, and can be distinguished by the cercus, which on M. angustipennis are small and narrowed at the middle. The hind femora are tan or pale yellow and the hind tibiae are reddish or blue.

Narrow-winged sand grasshoppers hatch as nymphs in early to late May. Nymphs develop to adults over the course of 36-42 days, enlarging to their full size and developing wings. The grasshopper adults are active from early July to the end of October. They occur in open sandy grasslands, vegetated sand dunes, and disturbed areas such as roadsides or upland fields from mid-central United States to south central Canada.