Grasshopper from Israel

Posted by bugman December 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pm

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Grasshoppers

Acrida bicolor from Israel
Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Hi Bug People!
I saw this fellow, Acrida bicolor, on a hike last weekend (December 19th) in the Judaean desert, not far from the Dead Sea. I thought that such a remarkable creature must be posted on WTB, so here are three pictures. One on a red background to emphasize its color patterns, one on my hand as a size reference, and one in its natural habitat, to show its camoflage.
Enjoy!
Ben, Israel
Zohar ravine, Judaean desert.

Acrida bicolor from Israel

Hi Ben,
Thanks for sending us these wonderful images of Grasshopper from Israel. It sure is an interesting looking specimen.

Acrida bicolor from Israel

Painted Grasshopper (August 5, 2005)
Katydid from Israel (April 15, 2007)
Desert Mantis from israel (November 7, 2007)
Horselubber Grasshopper in Mexico and Tanzanian Grasshopper (October 16, 2008)
Earwig from Israel (December 31, 2008)

Comments 3

Dave wrote:
It’s edible.
Though I don’t know about the range of this particular species, I once got a small amount of grasshoppers from Nigeria, and mixed into the sample were some of these really alien-looking heads-on-periscopes pieces. I’m pretty sure that this is what they are. They’re not the tastiest insects I’ve had, but they were very far from fresh and freshness seems to make a big difference when it comes to edible insects.
In the bigger picture, insects that utilize camouflage are likelier to be edible than those sporting bright colors, but there are some notable exceptions, such as Lonomia, a genus of Saturnid. The caterpillars can kill people on contact.

Best,

Dave
http://www.slshrimp.com
Posted 27 Dec 2008 at 6:23 pm ¶
Dave wrote:
Well, not IMMEDIATELY on contact; I didn’t mean to imply that. But there are some cases of unfortunate humans who stepped on these caterpillars in the Amazon rainforest and eventually died as a result.
Posted 27 Dec 2008 at 6:30 pm ¶
insectour wrote:
Hi

This hopper is not Acrida bicolor.

This specimen is a Truxalis sp (also Acridinae).
The question is what Truxalis?

The long antennae hint for Truxalis Longicornis but according the Fauna Palaestina / Acridoidea T. Longicornis known only from the central Negav.
Still is not look like the other Truxalis I know and its similar to the T. Longicornis in the below link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naseer_ommer/359603734/

So if this is T. Longicornis this is very nice record for quite rare Acridinae

photos of Truxalis spp and Acrida bicolor u can see in my album
http://www.tapuz.co.il/Albums/publicAlbum.asp?a=647532&u=113868&pageNumber=1&o=4&ao=1

Tks

Amir
Israel
http://insectour.blogspot.com/
Posted 20 Apr 2009 at 11:23 am ¶