Mexican Oak-leaf Grasshopper

Very similar to T. ferruginosus except with fastigium proportionately wider and shorter, body proportionately slightly more slender, wings of a darker more reddish orange to red or pink. The pronotum is more roughened, with the top less even in shape, and with the median crest averaging perhaps a bit higher. The body pattern averages darker, with markings more contrasting, and leaning more toward blackish or grayish than the warmer earth tones common in T. ferruginosus . These insects seem to be more alert and agile, and even females fly higher, further, and more rapidly to escape. They often will fly up (and over) slopes or into trees and brush, where they are very difficult to follow. They seem much more difficult to capture than are individuals of T. ferruginosus , which are usually rather easy. In that species, females especially are reluctant to fly, and tend to fly low and very short distances. Specimens placed under this name on BugGuide are done so only tentatively. The known distribution of T. mexicanus is far to the south of the United States in Mexico, but certain specimens found in southeastern Arizona, mostly in summer, seem to fit within T. mexicanus better than they match T. ferruginosus . It may turn out that they are just a form of that more abundant northern species; they may indeed be T. mexicanus ; or, perhaps they are yet a third undescribed species. They need further morphological, genetic, and ecological study before anything definite can be decided about them. For now they are separated under the name that seems to fit best, in order to keep them from been ignored and hidden among the entries for the more typical T. ferruginosus .