MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION. 235 



and ready to lay eggs. While a few species of grasshoppers pass 

 the winter as adults and a much larger number as nymphs, thereby 

 making it possible to find some grasshoppers in the early part of the 

 summer, it is a matter of common knowledge that they are nmch 

 more commonly seen in August and September, This is not because 

 there are more grasshoppers in the latter part of the season but be- 

 cause when winged they are much more conspicuous than in the 

 younger stages. 



MONTANA'S MOST COMMON AND DESTRUCTIVE 



SPECIES. 



In the following paragraphs we present a few of the leading facts 

 regarding the most common species of grasshoppers that we have 

 taken in middle and eastern Montana. They are not arranged in 

 the order of their importance except the first five or six. Not all the 

 species discussed are of great economic importance but all are com- 

 mon and liable to be observed by anyone. Since some of the species 

 are not yet known by vernacular names, we have used the scientific 

 name of all, but have given also the popular name when one is 

 known. 



I am indebted to Prof. Lawrence Bruner of the University of 

 Nebraska for valuable information concerning our species and for 

 the determination of a large number of species including a part of 

 those discussed in this paper. Dr. L. O. Howard of the Division 

 of Entomology at Washington has also very kindly identified a num- 

 ber of species for me. 



Aulocara elliotti Thomas. THE BIG-HEADED GRASSHOPPER. 



This grasshopper, in point of numbers, stands first in the series 

 here discussed. While it has been mentioned as being injurious in 

 various parts of the United States, it has never before been consider- 

 ed a prime cause of devastation. It occurs throughout western 

 United States and is a true grass-eating species. When viewed from 

 above or from the side the head is large (see figure) and the tibiae 



