Subject: Mating bugs?
Geographic location of the bug: Goromondzi, nr Harare, Zimbabwe
Date: 02/26/2018
Time: 08:03 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Are these two bugs a male and female mating? The smaller one on the back looked similar to a grasshopper. Found out in the bush. The larger one appeared to struggle to move with the other on its back.
How you want your letter signed: P Mcleod
Dear P Mcleod,
These are indeed Grasshoppers, and it is not unusual for the female to be significantly larger than the male in many species of Grasshoppers which is obvious during mating. We believe your individuals are in the family Pyrgomorphidae. We will attempt to identify the species.
Wow. Thank you for such a quick response. I should have realised the larger one was a grasshopper but I have never seen one like it before.
Thank you again
Phyllida
May be <i.Maura marshalli:
http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/ShowImage.aspx?TaxonNameID=1120699&ImageID=112350
And these must be related nymphs:
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2013/02/28/toxic-milkweed-grasshopper-from-south-africa-3/
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2011/02/20/koppie-foam-grasshopper-from-south-africa/
Despite the 2011 post matches the images here: https://www.insecte.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61085
Thanks Cesar. Marua marshalli appears to be correct.
May be <i.Maura marshalli:
http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/ShowImage.aspx?TaxonNameID=1120699&ImageID=112350
And these must be related nymphs:
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2013/02/28/toxic-milkweed-grasshopper-from-south-africa-3/
https://www.whatsthatbug.com/2011/02/20/koppie-foam-grasshopper-from-south-africa/
Despite the 2011 post matches the images here: https://www.insecte.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61085