[5] Aeoloplides tenuipennis inhabits many parts of southern United States and northern Mexico.

Its food plants inhabit Lower Sonoran life zone desert scrub, alkali flats, and grasslands.

In southeastern Arizona, it is abundant on fourwing saltbush, Atriplex canescens; it also occurs on cattle saltbush, Atriplex polycarpa, seepweed or seabite, Suaeda, greasewood, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, and introduced prickly Russian thistle, Salsola tra.

The specialized chenopod diet includes noxious plants such as prickly Russian thistle (tumbleweed), and A. tenuipennis is generally considered innocuous to beneficial where cattle are grazed.

[5][6] Many species of grasshoppers, like Aeoloplides tenuipennis, have posed a threat to agricultural economy in regards to pest management.