Giant Green Slantface - Acrida conica

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Giant Green Slantface - Acrida conica

This rather strange looking insect is a grasshopper from the Acrididae family, only these have very long gangly legs that hang down as they fly, so once seen are easy to recognise again in flight. There is only one species in the Acrida genus, but it is very widespread in the Eastern States, although not in Tasmania and southern Victoria. It is also found across most of Central Australia and into northern WA, then down most of the West Coast. However it has not been recorded east of the Albany district (across the Nullarbor)  to Port Augusta in SA, a distance of 1800 km or 1120 miles, so finding Acrida conica at Esperance has reduced that gap by 400 km or 250 miles.

The common name of Giant Green Slantface comes from the elongated slanting face, plus it is mostly green, with a much less common brown morph as shown above. The giant part is because they are quite large with the female being to 8.5 cm (nearly 31/2 “) in head/body length (males to 5.5 cm or 21/4” in length), but both appearing much larger due to their broad sword-shaped antennae and very long legs.

Whether these grasshoppers are green or brown, they are well camouflaged when on a similar coloured background. If disturbed they will take off and slowly flutter 5-10 metres before dropping down and if disturbed again, will again fly off until they locate a similar coloured background, where they will remain motionless and can be approached more closely.

This year 2012, I have seen several of these Giant Green Slantface grasshoppers just east of Esperance, generally in moist low-lying areas, possibly as this habitat offers a variety of different coloured backgrounds on which they can rest and feel safe. However, I do not recall seeing them in previous years or not that I noticed, so it will be interesting to see what happens in future.

Further Reading: A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts by Rentz, Lewis, Su and Upton.

Western Flag-face - Propsednura eyrei

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Western Flag-face - Propsednura eyrei

These unusual grasshoppers belong to the Pyrgomorphidae family, which also includes the very similar Psedna nana, the Variable Psedna (details). Although the colours vary between these species, this is not a good method of identification, as the Variable Psedna is as its name suggests highly variable, including juveniles taking on different coloration to that of the adults. I have caught a number of these Variable Psedna grasshoppers and can only establish identity by examining the appendage in the neck region (paraglossae), which is short, broad and triangular with Psedna nana, but long and peglike with the Western Flag-face, Propsednura eyrei.

Besides the adult breeding male above, I also have photos of what I think is the female, but alas, I did not examine the paraglossae, so cannot be sure of identification and hence it has been excluded. These two grasshopper species (which are of similar size) live on round-leaved sedges and being wingless, hop from one plant to another, providing they are within a metre (4’) or so of each other. This limited method of traversing their habitat may be the reason why locally this species is far less common than the Variable Psedna.

The Variable Psedna is very common in low-lying areas where round-leaved sedges can cover several hectares/acres. This species (Propsednura eyrei) on the other hand seems to prefer the more elevated and better drained heath areas, where this type of sedge although common and widespread, are more spaced and often surrounded by bushy shrubs that would hinder the movement of these insects. It may be that this species needs frequent bushfires to reduce the number of heathland shrubs, but encourage the growth of sedges and other suitable vegetation. A couple of habitat shots of mature heath vegetation are included, which may no longer be suitable Propsednura eyrei habitat.

Further reading: A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts by Rentz, Lewis, Su and Upton.

Disappearing Grasshopper - Schizobothrus sp. aff. flavovittatus

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Disappearing Grasshopper - Schizobothrus sp. aff. flavovittatus

The Schizobothrus genus currently has only a single species, but according to Dr D Rentz and Dr R Lewis, both authorities on Australian Orthoptera (Crickets and Grasshoppers), they thought the one above was probably a new species. However its habits are similar to S, flavovittatus, for when disturbed it too will quickly disappear into low grass, which in this case was Sporobolus virginicus (Marine Couch) a common couch type grass of saline coastal inlets, brackish creeks and salt-lakes.

This particular grasshopper was quite common, although very localised within a few metres/yards of a brackish creek near its exit into the sea east of Esperance. They varied in size from 2-3 cm (around 1”) in length and would commonly perch on reeds, but hop to the ground and into the matted Marine Couch, where their coloration made them difficult to locate unless the exact landing area was spotted.

They are obviously permanent residents, as a couple of flightless nymph stages were also seen, and probably more are distributed further up the creek, although dense vegetation makes access on foot impossible. The above photos were taken during March and April, but none were seen during the colder months.

Common Macrotona - Macrotona sp. (probably) M. australis

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Common Macrotona - Macrotona sp. (probably) M. australis

The Common Macrotona is mainly found in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and SA, with only a small occurrence in the NW Wheatbelt of the Moora/Mt Magnet area and to have this species now in the Esperance region would link their widely separate distribution locations. However, although this species is on casual observation very similar to Macrotona australis, examination of the genitalia is essential to be positive, hence the uncertainty. There are apparently 7 other described species in this genus, plus 33 undescribed ones.

Locally, the Common Macrotona is very common, found in both calcareous and non-calcareous sandy zones in an open shrubland containing a variety of vegetation, particularly herbaceous species. The coloration of the legs is very distinctive, as is the paraglossae (the wedge shape appendage in the neck region). The females are to 28 mm (1”) in length, whilst the males are recorded to only 18 mm (5/8”) in head/body size. The larger females have pronounced pale yellow stripes running from the head, along either side of the pronotum to join at the wing tips, but all observed males were much less prominently endowed.

My thanks to Dr D Rentz for his assistance, and ‘A Guide to the Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts’ by Rentz, Lewis, Su and Upton.

Common Red-leg - Genus Novum 95, ochracea

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Common Red-leg - Genus Novum 95, ochracea

Like most grasshoppers, Genus Novum 95, ochracea is part of the large Acrididae family, which includes the insects most people think of as a grasshopper. However to the people who study these animals there are many differences and this species and at least 17 others (16 undescribed) belong in a new genus, hence the temporary Genus Novum 95 classification. This species named ochracea, was probably allotted to a different genus, but is now in the process of being relocated.

When encountered this particular grasshopper can be very common, apparently favouring sandy open spaces even when there is little herbaceous vegetation from which to feed. The ones photographed above were very common in the calcareous tertiary dune system around Esperance, but I have also seen them elsewhere in non-calcareous heathland. They are recorded in the outback regions of Victoria, NSW, Qld, NT, WA and SA, the latter two States also along the coast, except in the higher rainfall districts.

The Common Red-leg Grasshopper is around 2 cm (3/4”) in length and as its name suggests has striking red markings on the inside of the leg. This is a distinctive feature and when combined with the shape of the paraglossae (wedge-like projection in the neck region) separates this species from other similar looking grasshoppers in Genus Novum 95.

My thanks to Dr David Rentz for identification and his (plus Lewis, Su and Upton) book titled A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts.

Common Pyrgomorph - Monistria discrepans

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Common Pyrgomorph - Monistria discrepans

The Monistria genus is part of the Pyrgomorphidae grasshopper family, which in Australia contains some highly colourful species sporting bright spots and stripes. Although they will readily hop to escape they are not particularly fast or cover much distance, which means if a predator was intent on catching them they would have little difficulty, particularly as they are often active during the day. However, predation does not seem to a major survival factor, which probably means they are either highly distasteful or poisonous and may reflect the type of vegetation consumed.

Monistria discrepans is called the Common Pyrgomorph, as it is widespread and found in the southern portion of WA and SA, then into northern Victoria, through most of NSW and a substantial region of Queensland. However in the Esperance district, I have only encountered it near the coast and associated with Myoporum insulare. A more locally common Pyrgomorph is Monistria latevittata, the Western Coastal Pyrgomorph (see: http://esperancewildlife.blogspot.com/2010/06/western-coastal-pyrgomorph-monistria.html), which occupies a variety of heathland habitats and is reasonably common.

Monistria latevittata is a little larger than Monistria discrepans, where females are a little over 3 cm (11/4”) in head/body length, although male species are only 1.5 cm (5/8”) . Both species have vivid yellow spots, but this species (Monistria discrepans) the larger spots tend to be neatly arranged down the abdomen and elsewhere. Both species have white spots, but these are generally less common with Monistria discrepans, although make up the main background of Monistria latevittata producing an overall grey appearance. The femur background colours of the largest legs are distinctively different between these species and the easiest way of telling them apart. With Monistria latevittata being pale grey with two black blotches, but with Monistria discrepans the upper central part is coloured brown or black, without blotches. Monistria discrepans has five geological races, so interstate variations are likely.

Monistria maculicornis is also reported to be in the Esperance region, but so far I have not seen it. This species has a considerable number of orange spots (sometimes brilliantly so), giving the grasshopper an overall orange appearance. Forms of other species may also appear orange, but this is due to the background color and not the orange spots. Also with this species, the white stripe that underlines the black eye stripe, extends down to the femur top of both middle legs.

The Paraglossae (throat appendage often extending between the front legs) of Monistria discrepans is quite fat and solid, whereas with Monistria latevittata it is thin and much smaller. All of these grasshoppers prefer light sandy soil, often with bare surrounding ground and seem to have communal areas where a number of males wait for visiting females, so in these parts at the right time of year they can be quite common, but outside these zones difficult to find. The two labelled photographs above show females, whilst the other eight illustrate males.

Further reading: A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts, by Rentz, Lewis, Su and Upton.

Goniaea opomaloides - Mimetic Gumleaf Grasshopper

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Mimetic Gumleaf Grasshopper - Goniaea opomaloides

Goniaea is a small genus (less than 10 species) of Gumleaf Grasshoppers and belongs to the large Acrididae grasshopper family. There are at least 2 species in the Esperance region including this one, plus another a little further north. These two are easily separated from this species by their strongly arched pronotum (the upper shield between the head and abdomen), whereas Goniaea opomaloides is relatively flat. For details of Goniaea vocans the similar local Gumleaf Grasshopper, see post under that name labelled ‘Insects - Grasshopper - Gumleaf ' in the lower right-hand column.

Locally Goniaea opomaloides can also be confused with Peakesia brunnea the Grey Peakesia, but the paraglossae (the projection below the chin) is peg-like in that species and not chisel shaped as with the Mimetic Gumleaf Grasshopper. For details of Peakesia brunnea a similar local Grasshopper, see post under that name labelled ‘Insects - Grasshopper – Grey Peakesia’ in the lower right-hand column.

With this Gumleaf species, there is a large size difference between sexes with females growing to 4.5 cm (nearly 2”)  and males to only 3 cm (little over 1”) in length (Individuals shown above are female). Although not overly common, these grasshoppers can be found under Acacia and Eucalyptus spp. and once seen are relatively easy to approach, relying on their effective cryptic colouration to remain hidden. They are recorded across the southern part of Australia from Geraldton WA to Rockhampton Qld.

Further reading:
A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts by Rentz, Lewis, Su and Upton.