[7] Sigaus minutus is found near Lake Tekapo, Lindis Pass and in the Mackenzie district, South Island, New Zealand.

[2] Genetically, S. minutus is sister to the alpine species S. campestris from central and southern South Island mountains.

[10] As seen in most New Zealand grasshoppers, these species are all without functioning wings and their cryptic colouring is variable within populations but always aids camouflage.

The majority of populations of S. minutus are on small isolated patches of privately owned farmland where land management practices will ensure their extinction.

In a survey of 20 sites on Crawford Hills Rd, Alexandra (Jamieson & Manly 1997), no Sigaus childi or S. minutus were found on land which is in pasture, used for growing orchards, or being irrigated.

Experiments have shown that acridids cannot tolerate insecticides or herbicides and are very sensitive to heavy metals and fertilizers in the soil.