It is found throughout northern Mexico, the central United States[2] and southern Ontario, Canada.

The most favored food plants tend to be giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola).

Adults can detect a chemical change in wilted lettuce and sunflowers, and will tend to avoid such plants.

Because this species tends to feed in large swarms, it can be a serious threat to farming over most of its range.

In smaller numbers, or in urban regions, differential grasshoppers frequently feed on garden vegetables, such as tomatoes, peas, Cannabis, various kinds of squash, and the leaves of those plants.