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Immature Toxic Milkweed Grasshopper from South Africa

Posted by January 6th, 2009 at 9:15 am

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Toxic Milkweed Grasshoppers

South African Grasshopper
Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 7:43 AM
Photographed at Cape Point, SA. A photo is attached.
Brett
Cape Point, South Africa

toxic grasshopper nymph africa brett 300x283 Immature Toxic Milkweed Grasshopper from South Africa

Immature Toxic Milkweed Grasshopper

Hi Brett,
This is an immature Toxic Milkweed Grasshopper, AKA Gaudy Grasshopper, AKA Bushlocust, in the family Pyrgomorphidae.  It may be Phymateus saxosus, but we are not certain.  Grasshoppers in this family feed on toxic milkweed and stores the toxic compounds in their bodies.  If injested, sickness or possibly even death may result.  The warning colors are a signal to not eat.

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Comments 1

  1. bugdude21 wrote:

    Its really surprising that milkweed can survive in South Africa.

    Posted 07 Jan 2009 at 9:02 am

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