They are similar to adults in general appearance but are smaller and have wing pads instead of wings. There are usually five or six nymphal stages and the length of time from egg to adult is 40 to 60 days. Knowledge of grasshopper instar identification is useful because it gives a rough indication of how far the hatch has progressed. Normally, once fourth and fifth instar grasshoppers are present, the hatch is winding down. More important, recognition of fifth instar hoppers indicates that the winged adult stage is soon to follow.
Winged adults are much more mobile than the nymphal stages.
Wingpads of first to third instar hoppers are borne saddle-like over the thorax. Wingpads of fourth and fifth instar hoppers are pointed backward over the abdomen and differ only in size. In the fourth instar they are relatively small and extend only to the first abdominal segment, while in the fifth instar they are large and extend past the second abdominal segment. Adults of crop-damaging grasshopper species become numerous in mid July with egg laying activity usually beginning in late July and continuing into fall. Eggs are deposited in a variety of non-crop areas including ditches, fence rows, shelterbelts and weedy areas.