Locust infected with mites?
Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 8:48 PM
Hi guys,
This locust was very well disguised by colour and textures to fit in with the semi arid landscape and I only spotted it when it jumped out of my way. After processing the shot I noticed the little red attachments. Would they be some type of mite or some other parasite?
aussietrev
Capricornia region, Queensland
Locust with Mites
Hi Trevor,
Your Locust is in the suborder Caelifera and probably one of the Short Horned Grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. We are not certain if the Mites are parasitic, but that is quite likely. There are some mites that infest insects, but they are not parasitic. Rather, they use the insect for transportation purposes, a phenomenon known as phoresy. We are currently experiencing problems with images going live and hope to resolve this very soon.
What’s this?
Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Hello,
The colourful little (well not so little) grasshopper in the picture and three of his friends/family have decided to make a plant outside our gate their home. The rest of the family appears to have moved on. We thing it is a Milkweed grasshopper. Please confirm this. Also can you tell us how to remove them without 1) getting hurt/poisoned ourselves and 2) hurting the grasshoppers.
Regards,
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Toxic Milkweed Grasshopper
We first did a google search to substantiate that Mpumalanga is in fact in South Africa because your image matched a photo taken in January 2000 that we received back in February 2006. That specimen was eventually identified as Phymateus leprosus , one of the Toxic Milkweed Grasshoppers or Gaudy Grasshoppers in the family Pyrgomorphidae . This species is also called a Bush Locust or sometimes Bushlocust. The toxicity, if our information is correct, results in ingesting them, not from handling them. You should be able to just catch them and release them to a more suitable location. Your specimen is an immature nymph as adults have fully developed wings.
1
Grasshopper/Locust From Madagasar
Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Hi bugman, in November 2007 i went into the mountains of madagascar and saw many strange insects, the only insect that i couldnt identify was a large colourful Grasshopper/locust looking thing, it was about 10cm long with big red butterfly like wings. I have seen a similar photo on your website and was wondering whether you have managed to positively identify this amazing creature?
Cheers Doug.
Mountains of Madagascar
Rainbow Bush Locust
Hi Doug,
This is a toxic species of grasshopper in the family Pyrgomorphidae, known commonly as a Gaudy Grasshopper. We posted a nearly identical specimen in January 2006 and it was identified as Phymateus saxosus with common names Rainbow Bush Locust, Rainbow Milkweed Locust, or Giant Milkweek Locust. The toxicity comes from eating milkweed. Thanks for sending us your gorgeous photo.
1
¶ Posted 28 December 2008 § ‡ ° 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
¶ Posted 24 December 2008 § ‡ ° Crested Tooth-grinder
Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Hi Guys,
Here is a strange one for you, a Crested Tooth-grinder, Ecphantus quadrilobus. This is a 4th instar nymph. While apparently widespread in Australia this is my first encounter with one. Here is a link http://140.247.119.138/albums/Album_1/source/10.html
with a bit more information. Hope you like this unusual guy.
aussietrev
Queensland, Australia
Crested Tooth-Grinder
Hi Trevor,
What an interesting looking Grasshopper you have sent us for our archives.
Possibly a Grasshopper ?
Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 7:49 AM
This group of several dozen bugs was seen early afternoon. They would move a few centimetres then stop (all on top of each other) and then move again in unison. We inotially thought they were on top of and eating something but this was not the case as when they moved there was no trace of anything where they had been.
Peter St Clair
St Lucia Wetlands Park, South Africa
Grasshopper Herd in South Africa
Hi Peter,
These are immature Grasshoppers or Nymphs. We are not certain of the species however. They resemble North American Lubber Grasshoppers in the family Romaleidae. We especially like your vivid description of the “herd’s” method of locomotion.
Immature Grasshoppers in South Africa
Hi, Daniel:
Wow, you have been very busy posting! I turn my back for a week and….wham! LOL!
The “grasshopper herd” are nymphs of something in the Pyrgomorphidae most likely, being that colorful and all.
Eric
¶ Posted 24 November 2008 § ‡ ° Large colorful cricket
Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I found this large (about 3-4 inches) cricket looking bug on my rose bush. Since then I have seen him or his friends several places around my house. Once it was even walking along the edge of my roof. I was just wondering what it was.
Curious
Denham Springs, Louisiana
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
Hi Curious,
This is an Eastern Lubber Grasshopper, Romalea microptera. There are light and dark forms and yours is a textbook example of the light form. You can find a matching image and information on Bugguide.
¶ Posted 23 November 2008 § ‡ ° Camouflaged Grasshopper
Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Hi, I was perusing granitic formations around Knob Lick, Missouri when I espied movement. Upon closer inspection I realized I was looking at a highly camouflaged grasshopper.
There are many ‘hoppers in our general area, but I’ve never seen one quite like this. He’s approximately 2″ long. Can you tell me more about him?
Also, the second pic is of the more commonly seen ‘hoppers.
Thanks for your help! I love the site!
Misty, the HiTechRedneck
Knob Lick, MO
Pine Tree Spur-Throat Grasshopper
Hi Misty,
We spent a bit of time scanning through images on BugGuide, and we believe this is a Pine Tree Spur-Throat Grasshopper, Melanoplus punctulatus. BugGuide indicates: “Forests and oak savannah; may be nocturnal–comes to lights. Often seen perched on trunks of trees, where well-camouflaged.” Anyone who uses the verb espied is our kind of reader.
Correction: October 27, 2008
Hi, Daniel:
Just went over to visit WTB and did find one minor error. The image labeled “Pine tree spur-throated grasshopper” is actually a band-winged grasshopper, probably in the genus Trimerotropis, though it is hard to be conclusive.
Eric
¶ Posted 26 October 2008 § ‡ ° 
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