MONTANA INSECT PESTS, 1949 AND 1950 



(36) Schistocerca lineatum Scudder 



(37) Hesperotettix viridis (Thomas) 



(38) Hypochlora alba (Dodge) 



(39) Aeoloplus turnhuUi (Thomas) 



(40) Phoetaliotes nebrascensis (Thomas) 



(41) Melanoplus dawsoni (Scudder) 



(42) MelaitopliLS mexicaniis (Saussure) 



(43) Melanoplus keeleri (Thomas) 



(44) Melanoplus infantilis Scudder 



(45) Melanoplus co7ifusus Scudder 



(46) Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) 



(47) Melanoplus differentialis (Thomas) 



(48) Melanoplus bowditchi Scudder 



(49) Melanoplus femur-rubrum (DeGeer) 



(50) Melanoplus occidentalis Thomas 



(51) Melanoplus gladstoni Scudder 



(52) Melanoplus packardii Scudder 



Approximately one-third of the above grasshopper species 

 were too few in number to make detailed observations of their 

 activities. It was possible, however, to make detailed observations 

 of the remaining 'hopper species. 



The results of detailed observations indicate that there is 

 great variance in the feeding habits and food-plant preference 

 of those range grasshoppers studied. Fifteen of the species * (3, 4, 

 5, 8, 9, 10, 13. 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 34, 35, 40) were found to be strictly 

 grass feeders. The majority of these species may be considered 

 to be general grass feeders, although a decided preference for cer- 

 tain species of grass was evident when these grasses were avail- 

 able to the 'hoppers. Five of the grass feeding 'hopper species 

 * (5, 13, 14, 15, 35) were found to be so highly selective in their 

 feeding that they were found only in areas where the grass which 

 they preferred was growing. 



Nine species * (20, 24, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39, 48) of range grass- 

 hoppers ignored the grasses entirely and fed solely upon forbs. 

 As was the case with grass-feeding 'hoppers, a certain amount of 

 preference in the selection of plants eaten was demonstrated by 

 the forb-feeding 'hoppers. It was noted that one * (39) species 

 of grasshopper fed only on the fleshy forb members of one plant 

 family (Cbenopodiaciae) ; two others * (38, 48) fed only on the 

 five sagebrush species found in the area. The common rosebush 

 v/as the main diet for another species of grasshopper '■'■'■ (36) and 

 broom-snake weed was eaten mainly by one species '' (37) . 



In addition to those 'hoppers found to be specific on either the 

 grasses or the forbs found on the range, ten species " (12, 25, 26, 33, 

 42, 44, 46, 49, 51, 52) were noted feeding on both forbs and grasses. 



'•'Refers to species listed above. 



