| NB: Only Orthoptera (Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids) are shown here. Plant hoppers, etc. are under Hemiptera on the "Beetles, Cockroaches & True Bugs" page. |
| Stat' | Notes | Thumbnails: 583. 70 native species listed, with 58 from Ellura |
| Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) | |||||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Australian Aiolopus Grasshopper Aiolopus thalassinus ssp dubius iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us 1st Record in SA on Atlas: ~22mm long. Blue back leg "calves", distinctive white stripe on the forewings. Thanks to Robert for also letting us know it was a male. Found one male in Jan. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Striped Grasshopper Apotropis vittata iNaturalist | Na e m r | Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us Females are ~26-29mm long. The one male we measured was ~17mm long. Inside leg/thigh & tibia are dark grey, almost black. Body colours are variable, the quantity of photo's here is to present some of the variation of colour forms. We photographed 5 specimens so fare, in Oct, Nov & March. Females: S2 was 26mm, S4 27mm & S5 28mm. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Spur-throated Locust Austracris guttulosa iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors & Dean (SauceGandhi) for confirming the id of this species for us The Female we caught & measured at Ellura was small for a female, ~55mm tip to tail & ~110mm wingspan. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Southern Austroicetes Austroicetes frater iNaturalist | Na e m a | Thank you Robert Read & Dr Michael Kearney for confirming the id of this species for us Their red legs, eyes protruding above the head slightly & the profile shape of the pronotum are distinctive for this species. As you can see, their colour is quite variable. The last one had a missing leg, which shows the body well. This is a regular occurance with grasshoppers. This highlights how we flip images so the head is to the left to help compare different species. Robert Read indicated on iNaturalist that all Austroicetes sp have a type of cross or 'X' mark on the pronotum. If this is missing, it's indicates the specimen is not Austroicetes. Michael said "Apparently this species is always found under trees" | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Crusty Grasshopper Caperrala sp iNaturalist | Na e m |
Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for identifying this species for us ~30mm long. Purple hind legs. We photographed 6 specimens, 3 females, in Mar (F), Apr, May, Oct & Nov (F). | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Australian Plague Locust Chortoicetes terminifera iNaturalist | Na e m a f | Thank you Robert Read, Matthew Connors & Thomas Mesaglio for confirming the id of this species for us ~30mm long. Males are smaller than females Very variable in colour ranging from vivid green to pale brown. While the colours vary, the patterns of the wings and on the hind legs are always the same. The rear legs are also red. Notice the stripe on top of the head to the pronotum isn't diagnostic (as it appears on the male but not the female that are mating). The black "patch" seen on the rear tip of the closed wings helps to quickly separate these from other similar grasshoppers. The "cross" on the back, previously used to separate these, is also found on similar grasshoppers, eg Austroicetes sp. It seems when they contact another of their species every 30 seconds they go into a mating frenzy, causing plaguing. There must be good conditions for them to start with to encounter so many others in such a short time frame. While we have photographed 10 separate specimens, as can be deduced in the plaguing shots, we've seen thousands in a day. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Bark-mimicking Grasshopper Coryphistes ruricola iNaturalist | Na e m a r | Similar Species: Strong-horned Grasshopper (Retuspia validicornis) Thank you Matthew Connors & David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us These are a large grasshopper, but we have only managed to capture one adult, yesterday, to measure. We've had 11 sightings over the last 11 years, in May, July, Aug, Sept & Nov; most being juvenile The adult was ~31mm, with juveniles range from 21mm-31mm. There is a near identical species, Adreppus fallax, which seems to have shorter wings. This is not normally a reliable characteristic to separate out grasshopper species. We will update this page as we learn more. These have very distinctive antennae, being wide at the bottom narrowing to the tip. The segment lengths are very irregular. Colours vary dramatically from grey through various shades of brown with or without dark/black banding on the sides. As can be seen, they camouflage very well and are difficult to find unless the move. The inside legs are very colourful, starting with a blue splash at the hip joint, through maroon with or without white lateral dashes on the thigh, finalising in lavendar to purple shins & feet. To see these colours it's best to try and get your subject to climb something; it then stretches it's hind legs out and the colours become apparant. Typically the inside thigh is dark and looks black to the naked eye outside. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Green-lichen Stonehopper Cratilopus sp ES01 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Ethan Beaver & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us S1 is the only specimen we've captured & measured, ~25mm long. While they look very similar S2 has some minor differences. It's possible these variations are due to gender, age, environment or different species. In particular, notice the different markings on the pronotum; possibly also a juvenile. We believe S3 is a juvenile due to it's small size, short antennae (which are darker at the tips) & separated wing buds. It's other markings are the same as 9 of our sightings, except S2. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Riverina Stonehopper Cratilopus sp ES02 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Ethan Beaver for identifying and Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us It's not possible to identify these down to species; as such they could all be the same species, or each a different one. The are 4 different species listed under Cratilopus on the ALA. They are abundant on Ellura. They are flightless and, due to the one pair we found mating, are able to prove the adults are wingless. While difficult to see, it does seem the adults have two separated/overlapping wing stubs, per side, not one hiding the other. Also note the different sized wing stubs. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Striped Stonehopper Cratilopus sp ES03 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for identifying and Ethan Beaver for helping with the id of this species for us After we found the 1st female we photographed here, Marie then found a pair copulating. Always useful to have the pair that are the same species to compare against the books. We then posted photo's of this pair on iNaturalist where Matthew & Robert analsysed the images. Matthew said "Cratilopus on the basis of wing length and prosternal process." "Transverse prosternal process in both sexes, short wings, female about twice the length of the male." While Matthew indicated Catrilopus sp 1 was a strong consideration, he indicated the "shape of the pronotal margin is a little different". Comparing to C. sp 1, Robert said "Male furcula not as broadly separated. Cercus seems longer." Until these are formally described we don't really have any diagnostics to go by. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Orange-lichen Stonehopper Cratilopus sp ES04 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us Female ~26mm long. Notice 1. the very 3 dimensional pronotum trailing edge. 2. Black hind shins. 3. Purple hind feet. 4. Black inner hind thighs, with orange an orange stripe along the bottem edge. One photographed in Nov. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Yellow-winged Locust Gastrimargus musicus iNaturalist | Na a | Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Gumleaf Grasshopper Goniaea australasiae iNaturalist | Na e m a f c | Thank you Matthew Connors & Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us Males ~28mm, females ~40-47mm long, with both exhibiting a variety of colour morphs. A very high pronotum crest (median carina) which is not notch to any extent by the 3 lines (sulcus). If there is a notch it'll be small and in the 1st line (near the head). | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Mimetic Gumleaf Grasshopper Goniaea opomaloides iNaturalist | Na e m a r |
Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us Adult Males ~23-24mm, 5th Instar Female ~27mm, Adult Female ~35-43mm. Note that males have blue hind legs & females have "purple" hind legs. The 2 nymphs we've photographed have red to pink hind legs. Smaller than other Gumleaf grasshoppers. We thought some of these were G. volcans. When we quizzed Matthew on the notch in the 3 line (sulcus) on the pronotum on some of the specimens we photographed he said "G. opomaloides can have a notch there too but not always - the key feature is that the pronotum isn't arched at all (it's depressed here in fact which is a little weird)." Interestingly we get deep red specimens in Jan, around the time the Senna Seed Pods are turning the same deep/burnt red. At other times of the year they are pale brown. In Jan we found an instar (S14) which shed in the pot after we caught it; from 4th to 5th instar stage (you can tell by the size of the wing stubs). As we post process all images, and flip them so the head is always pointing to the left (makes comparison easier) the leg seems to be missing on different sides. We have found 14 specimens in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct & Dec | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | False Gumleaf Grasshopper Goniaeoidea sp iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us ~33mm long. Reddish wings contrast with grey body & off-white pronotum & head. Thru the damaged forwings, it looks like the hindwings are dark brown. Wings end with the abdomen. Inside hind legs are black lined with dark red/maroon. They are remarkably plain coloured on the outside hinde legs. The rear tibia goes from green at the top thru blue to purple at the base, with purple feet. Antennae are slightly wedge shaped, with slightly reddish-brown tips from halfway along. Pronotum dorsally with very straight trailing edged triangle. Pronotoum has 3-4 strong sutures. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Giant Crested Grasshopper Macrolopholia sp iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Black-faced Macrotona Macrotona australis iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us The black face separates this out from the Inland Grasshopper (M. securiformis) in the area. We found one of each species on Ellura on the same day. Robert said "If it has a black face it is a male." He has photographed the female showing the Prosternal Process, that separates it from other macrotonas. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Inland Macrotona Macrotona securiformis iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us Females we found were ~24mm long; males ~16mm long. These have a white face compared to M. australis. Males are smaller, look very colourful and usually short-winged. Females are always fully winged, which hide their colours more. Both have lime-green bellies, as well as greenish stripes on the rear thighs, and red on the rear tibias. Notice the white tips on the antennae, as well as on the palps. Photographed 5 specimens in Jan, Feb, Mar & Jun. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Striped-cheek Macrotona Macrotona sp iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Robert Read & Martin J Steinbauer for confirming the id of this species for us ~25mm long female. We originally confused this with Inland Macrotona (Macrotona securiformis). It's one of many undescribed Macrotonas. 1) The stripe on the cheek alerted us to it being different, 2) the forehead is grey, not white, 3) the rear leg stripes aren't solid black, but dappled/cross-hatched black, 4) the wing spotting is in different place, 5) the antenna are pale, but still with a white tip, 6) wood-grain eyes, 7) ventrally dull greenish, not bright lime-green, 8) abdomen, dorsally, not much red, 9) Blue tibias & feet. Photographed one in Jan. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Western False Apotropis Novum48 sp 3 iNaturalist | Na r | Thank you Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us This is a known, but undescribed species called "Genus Novum 48 Species 3", shown in Rentz et al's book "A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers and Locusts"; page 167. Notice the 2 different species, photographed on the same day, are different colour; the 2nd having a green tinge & the orange stripe being less well defined and paler. Notice the purple antennae & feet. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Collared Pardillana Pardillana limbata iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Orange-winged Pardillana Pardillana sp 11 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and Ben Kurek for confirming the id of this species for us The male was considerably smaller than the female @ ~25mm compared with ~38mm for the female. Both have white tipped antennae. The female seemed slightly browner than the male, which was quite gray. The female had obvious orange wings when she flew off; hence the common name. Originally thought to be an unusually coloured Mimetic Gumleaf Grasshopper (Goniaea opomaloides). We've photographed 4 specimens in Jan, Feb & Mar (dead). | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Wet-area Grasshopper Perloccia evittata iNaturalist | Na a | Thank you Robert Read, Matthew Connors & Ben Kurek for confirming the id of this species for us Similar to Kosciuscola sp, but as you can imagine from the name, they are an alpine species. Was thought to be Praxibulus sp for a while, until we found Perloccia evittata in the book/grasshopper bible "A Guide to Australian Grasshoppers & Locusts". They can be completely green, completely brown or a mix of green & brown as shown here. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Wingless Grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum iNaturalist | Na e m a | Thank you Matthew Connors & David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us ~17mm long These two sightings are important to show both the colour & wing configuration of these grasshopper. They have variable wing length & stripes can be missing. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Grassland Grasshopper Pycnostictus seriatus iNaturalist | Na a | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Spotted Bandwing Qualetta maculata iNaturalist | Na e m r | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us They are known for their thick pronotum (shield on the back). It does vary though. The head is also quite distinctive being quite short but high, with the eyes protruding above the "forehead". The abdomen is apricot in colour, and the pronotum has varying shades of white to grey. Thanks to Matthew Connors for picking our miss-id of the nymph. We thought it was Cratilopus; you can see the pronotum shape is wrong for that genus, as well as Cratilopus being flightless. Photographed 11 in Jan, Mar, Apr, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov & Dec. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Strong-horned Grasshopper Retuspia validicornis iNaturalist | Na e m | Similar Species: Bark-mimicking Grasshopper (Coryphistes ruricola) Thank you Robert Read & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us This is the most southern record of this species we can find. It's been hot and dry; we are into the 2nd year of a drought. Perhaps more Northerly species are progressing south. This male was ~26mm long. Very similar to the Bark-mimicking Grasshopper, we have shown a number of angles of the head to help show some of the differences between them. Primarily the antennae are broader in perspective to the body, but eye patterns, fastigium shape, etc, all show differences when looking close up in details. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Disappearing Grasshopper Schizobothrus flavovittatus | Na e m | ~27mm, with very variable colours. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Crepitating Spurthroat Scurra marmoralis | Na e m r | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying this species for us We thought this was Halgania Grasshopper (Histrioacrida roseopennis), but for one thing the antennae are MUCH shorter with this species compared to H. roseoppenis. Crepitate (in the common name) means to make a crackling sound. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Blue-legged Hairy Grasshopper Tapesta carneipes iNaturalist | Na m | Thank you Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us ~14mm long | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Hairy Grasshopper Tapesta sp ES01 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Ethan Beaver for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Salt & Pepper Grasshopper Urnisa guttulosa iNaturalist | Na e m |
Thank you Robert Read for identifying this species for us A large specimen at ~32mm head tip to abdomen tail. The "Posternal process" is also called "Throat Spur" in some species. But as noted here it's quite wide and flat, much less like a spur. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Red-legged Urnisa Urnisa rugosa iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and Robert Read for helping with the id of this species for us After spending hours trying to separate out Urnisa species, we discovered there's an error with the habitus image on Rentz's Grasshoppers of Australia book, page 181. We also chatted with Robert about this and he came up with some very useful insights which make it much easier. He translated the orginal description; it's all quite old and confusing as many species have been synonymised into the few we can get in SA now. Sumarised here for you to be able to refer back to easily: Robert said "For the 3 SA species I would separate them as follows: 1. Pronotum with small tubercules, U. guttulosa 2. Pronotum with large tubercules close together, U. sp. 1 3. Pronotum rugose, U. rugosa" As an aside, we've been considering the binomial name more as we learn more. We attempt to use it when creating common names for inverts where they don't exist yet. Robert translated the 2 described species in this genus: guttulosa means "little drops", that is with small tubercules. rugosa means "rough" or "wrinkled". | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Eastern Urnisa Urnisa sp 1 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us This is an undescribed species, that is known about by the experts. So it's in the Urnisa genus, and labelled "sp 1"; ie "species one". When a species is formally described it gets a proper binomial name. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Short-horned Grasshopper Caelifera: Acrididae | Sand Dune Grasshopper Urnisiella rubropunctata iNaturalist | Na r |
Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us Incredibly well hidden/camouflaged grasshopper. All the legs are very long, particularly the middle pair. It looked liked a spider at first. We coloured one photo to try and bring the grasshopper out more; but it's not how we saw it. The nymph shown here is probably ~5th instar. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Striped Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES01 | Na a | ||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Short Antennae Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES02 | Na e m | ||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Mottled Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES03 | Na e m | Thanks to Matthew Connors for letting us know the only sub-family we get outside of rainforrests are Morabinae. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Bark-mimicking Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES04 | Na e m | ||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | White Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES05 | Na e m | ||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Quad Striped Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES08 | Na e m | ||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Pale Matchstick Grasshopper Morabinae sp ES11 | Na e m | ||||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Mottled Matchstick Grasshopper Prorifera sp ES01 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Dr Michael Kearney for identifying this species for us 1st Live Photo on-line: Michael explained that both location and the number of antennal segments pointed to this genus. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Red Matchstick Grasshopper Prorifera sp P11a iNaturalist | Na m | Thank you Dr Michael Kearney for identifying this species for us These are often confused with Giant Green Slantface's, in photo's anyway. These are much smaller. The easy way to differentiate between them in photo's is that Matchstick Grasshoppers (sub-family Morabinae) have very short fat serrated antennae; mind you the antennae on this one is getting up there to make it confusing! Michael said "All the matchstick grasshoppers were assigned a provisional ('P') species number by Ken Key so, even though they aren't formally described, they can be referred to. Prorifera contains 16, possibly 17 species, but only three have been described. P11a occurs in mallee and heathy veg either side of the SA/Vic border from around Nhill to Murray Bridge and from about Peebinga down to Naracoorte" | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Matchstick Grasshopper Caelifera: Morabidae | Matchstick Grasshopper Vandiemenella viatica iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Dr Michael Kearney for identifying this species for us ~25mm long. The number of segments on the antennae are diagnostic for this family. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Gaudy Grasshopper Caelifera: Pyrgomorphidae | Slant Face Atractomorpha sp | Na m |
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| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Gaudy Grasshopper Caelifera: Pyrgomorphidae | Adelaide Pyrgomorph Monistria discrepans iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us Adult females we've measured are ~27-33mm, male ~17mm & juv' females ~16mm While we worked out the genus years ago, Matthew id'ed them to species He said "... Adelaide race. Oddly enough, about 1% of adults are fully-winged whereas the rest all have tiny wings like this." We've only seen flightless specimens. Later, Matthew also id'ed a couple of our juveniles as the same. We were thinking they might be Blistered Pyrgomorphs (M. pustulifera). They are quite similar and very variable. We've included shots of most speciemens to highlight differences & similarities. To help us sort them out he said "The pronotum isn't quite sculptured enough for M. pustulifera and the sides of the fastigium are convex rather than concave (although I'm not sure how variable these features are)" ... the fastigium is the spur on the top of the forehead ... "The key difference that should still be noticeable in nymphs is that the vertex (the section between the eyes) is raised above the eyes in M. pustulifera and is "flat or weakly convex" in M. discrepans." ... "I'm not sure how much the white rings vary in nymphs but in adult M. pustulifera even the ones on the side of the pronotum should have white rings". Thanks Matthew, very useful information that has allowed us to confirm all our specimens are the same species. We photographed 17 different specimens occuring in every month over 6 months from March to August; over 9 years. We have only ever found adult males with females. Otherwise we find adult & juveniles females on their own. Robert has since said "Some M. discrepans also seem to have white around the spots", Comparing to M. pustulifera he said "Reliable differences are; Shape of head in profile. Shape of abdomen viewed from above. Rentz et al. state that it is pinched in M. discrepans, but so far we have not seen an image where this is visible." | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Pygmy Grasshopper Caelifera: Tetrigidae | Ellura's Pygmy Grasshopper Cyphotettix ellurae iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Niko Kasalo, Dr Josip Skejo & Matthew Connors for identifying and Aidan Beutel for confirming the id of this species for us A new species named after Ellura ! 1st Live Photo on-line, 1st Record on Atlas: ~5mm long Nymphs. ~5-8mm long Adults At first we didn't know what this was, perhaps a Hemipteran bug? After reviewing photo's we realised it was a grasshopper. With a pronotum that covered the whole body we thought a wingless Rockhopper (Buforniina sp). Thankfully there are experts out there willing to help with these unusual species. It turned out to be a Pygmy Grasshopper Nymph! Josip said "It could be either Tetrix irrupta, or maybe Cyphotettix sp. as Matthew suggested." We became convinced we had a flightless species, and couldn't differentiate Nymphs from Adults. Josip sent us a link to a research paper he's published showing that, with flightless species, the only way to differentiate them is by a groove, or notch, just before the knee on top of the back legs. The top of the back leg is straight on nymphs (as can be seen here). It's very difficult to see in photographs. Josip then tagged Niko Kasalo at Zagreb Uni, who recognised it as a new species. Niko is working with ANIC to describe this, and other Australian tetrigids. They can be white, brown or black, striped or plain with most being brown, then black; white is rare. We are of course jumping the gun here, it's not officially "Cyphotettix ellurae" until it's published, which won't happen until next year. But we are so excited & proud that he's going to name it after Ellura that we couldn't wait to share the news These are facinating hoppers. The family is as old as dinosaurs. They even pre-date grass! Which makes the "Grasshopper" moniker somewhat deceiving. They actually eat fungi, moss, detritus, etc. Niko had some interesting, and very kind, things to say CLICK HERE Photographed 18 in Jan, May, Jun, July & Oct. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Leaf-rolling Cricket Gryllacrididae | Dark Raspy Cricket Gryllacrididae sp ES01 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us S2 = Female Early Instar S3 = Male Adult S4 = Male Adult S6 = Male Adult S7 = Female Final Instar S11 = Female Adult Males ~24-26mm, while the adult S11 was considerably larger at ~35 (excluding ovipositor). S3 Male antennae length was 45mm, Female ovi-positor length ~37mm. S3 was the first adult we caught, and it was very sick. Could have been a spider bite, dehydration, etc. At first, we thought it was at it's end of life, but after giving it a drink and keeping it in a container all day it's vitality returned, so we released it. A reddish brown face (black at some angles) with a white spot between the eyes and two oblong white patches above the antenna base. Their front legs have two vertical rows of strong spines to catch & hold prey. We were surprised that it was aggressive! David Rentz suggests they are ferocious. We heard it "rasping" it's wings but a video couldn't pick up the sound, it's too quiet. They are also called Leaf-rolling Crickets because they can produce webbing from their mouths to wrap a leaf up to hide in. Very similar to Leaf-curling spiders. Even more surprising is that it's wing venation is different from one side to the other. We found this on another specimen, so wing venation isn't diagnostic here. They can also have asymmetric genetalia - possibly can even have male & female genitalia. We can't be sure the nymphs are the same species, but since the features look to match up (spots on the face, etc) it's a reasonable assumption. Notice, on the female nymphs, the ovi-positor curls up over the abdomen to keep out the way while growing; and gets longer with each instar. Through other miss-id'ed images, we thought this might be Apotrechus sp, but Matthew said "Apotrechus are completely wingless and lack dark markings on the face" Photographed 11 in Jan, Mar, Oct, Nov & Dec. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Leaf-rolling Cricket Gryllacrididae | Pale Raspy Cricket Gryllacrididae sp ES02 iNaturalist | Na e m | ~23mm long Male. Notice the rear end is quite different to ES01. There is also the obvious difference of the different coloured head, but colour is often not a good diagnostic tool when it comes to inverts. Notice how the spines on the front leg are so hairy. While not clear in the above photo's, ES01 exhibits the same morphology. Photographed 1 Male in Oct | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Leaf-rolling Cricket Gryllacrididae | Black Raspy Cricket Hadrogryllacris sp ES01 iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us ~27mm long nymph (female, 5th/final instar) with antennae a whopping nearly 80mm Very little is published on Australian raspy crickets. Here we have gone to species because of colour; no other raspy crickets are black (that we are aware of). Notice here the ovi-positor curling up and over the abdomen. We think this straightens out in the adult. In his cricket book, Rentz says Raspy Crickets are closer to Katydids than True Crickets, but unfortunately doesn't cover them in either his Cricket nor Katydid books. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | True Cricket Grylloidea: Gryllidae | Mottled Bush Cricket Eurepa marginipennis iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Prof Tony Robillard & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | True Cricket Grylloidea: Gryllidae | Brown Bush Cricket Lepidogryllus comparatus iNaturalist | Na e m a | Males & Females are ~18mm long (body & head), with antennae that are longer than the body. Females have a long ovi-positor which is partially concealed by the hind wing tips. As such, males which also have the same rolled/pointed hindwing tips look quite similar. Males have a very different wing venation to females. Can be differentiated from Black Bush Crickets by the streak marks on the head and pale legs. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | True Cricket Grylloidea: Gryllidae | Lined Ground Cricket Salmanites sp iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors & Prof Tony Robillard for confirming the id of this species for us We found one female in May. She was ~10mm long (head+body), with her ovipositor twice that at ~20mm. A small dark cricket with a heringbone like pattern on her back. We assume she's an adult by the length of her ovi-positor, which shows she is wingless and therefore flightless; not unusual with crickets. Typically considered a Northern Australia genera, it seems they also inhabit the dry regions to the South. Tony suggests "that it is probably new"; ie an undescribed species. This also means that the genus level id could be changed once/if it's described. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | True Cricket Grylloidea: Gryllidae | Black Bush Cricket Teleogryllus commodus iNaturalist | Na m a |
Thank you Asimakis Patitsas for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Scaled Cricket Grylloidea: Mogoplistidae | Wandella Ornebius Ornebius sp iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors & David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us Only ~7-8mm long, it's a very flat, wingless species, with an extended "nose". The male has much longer antennae (slightly longer than it's head & body) than the females (about half head & body length). The antennae on both genders are banded, basically brown with small, unevenly spaced, black bands. Ovipositor is ~3mm long. Listed as Northern Australia location but Adelaide Uni found some in SA back in the 1950's. 3 specimens found (1 x male, 2 x female) in March, April & July | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Spider Cricket Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae | Spider Cricket Endacusta australis iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us Not a lot is known of our Australian crickets. Like so many inverts, genital examination is required to get below genus level to species. Since we only photograph with a macro DSLR, we don't have the resolution for that type of work. We have made some assumptions here: 1. Female age is based on the length of her ovipositor. 2. Females are wingless. 3. Adults males of this genera don't seem to have full length wings. We can't be sure the specimens here are the same species. But they do look very similar and most were found on the same day. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Pygmy Cricket Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae | Ottes Pygmy Cricket Calperum ottei iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors & David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us 1st Live Photo on-line: We found 3 specimens, 2 x female & 1 x male in January, July & August. Given they are a winter species, the January sighting is strange. It was a hot, wet summer. Mottled reddish brown crickets with a couple of dark abdominal bands and 2 diagnostic central pale dorsal spots. They have a distinctive horizontal black band covering the lower half of their face; which carries through their eyes. Her ovi-positor sheaths have finely serrated tips; possibly the reason for the families other common name of "Sword-tail" Crickets. Females are ~5-6mm, with ovipositor ~3-4mm. We didn't measure our male but according to our source "A guide to Crickets of Australia" by Rentz & Su, males are slightly smaller. Both genders are wingless. These are well known in the Murray Mallee, and are often found with Mallee Dwarf Cricket (Territirritia tya) in larger quantities; which we've also experienced. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Pygmy Cricket Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae | Confusing Pygmy Cricket Pteronemobius truncatus iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us Our first winged pygmy cricket. We found 2 dead females, on the same day in February. While we prefer to use live specimens, we also use dead ones until we find live ones to publish. Unfortunately we didn't realise the insect pots were full of moth scales, so got these covered ruining the quality of the diagnostic we can gather. Body & head ~6 mm, with ovipositor at just over 2mm. These are found in the Murray Mallee, but few records can be found on-line. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Pygmy Cricket Grylloidea: Trigonidiidae | Mallee Dwarf Cricket Territirritia tya iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us 1st Live Photo on-line: We found 4 specimens, 3 x female & 1 x male in July & August. Very dark crickets with few markings; males are black while females are dark brown. They have not discernable face markings, which is unusual for crickets. The females have small pale pairs of spots on their backs (not always visible). Her ovi-positor sheaths have serrated tips. Females are ~6mm, with ovipositor ~3-4mm, while our male was ~4mm. Both genders are wingless. These are well known in the Murray Mallee, and are often found with Ottes Pygmy Cricket (Calperum ottei) in smaller quantities; which we've also experienced. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Mole Cricket Gryllotalpidae | Australian Mole Cricket Gryllotalpa australis iNaturalist | Na a | Thank you Matthew Connors & Thomas Mesaglio for confirming the id of this species for us ~28mm long (head & body) The diagnostic black colouration of the wing is not visible at all angles. The two dimples on the pronotum don't seem to be mentioned anywhere, but both specimens photographed have them The ocelli look defunct (brown rather than black)? Had them in our lawn in Lobethal. They were so loud at certain times of the year we couldn't sit under our verandah. There are very few sightings of these (even less in SA), but that's probably because they live underground. But when you do see them, such prehistoric animals! Photographed 2 male specimens in March, 10 years less 3 days apart! | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Mole Cricket Gryllotalpidae | The Confusing Mole Cricket Gryllotalpa coarctata iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Thaddeus Charles Jones for confirming the id of this species for us 1st Record in SA on Atlas: ~31mm long. It has hairy antennae, and is fact relatively furry. Notice the powerful front claws for digging dirt & making tunnels. The rear legs have long spines for moving the loose dirt back. One male found in Nov. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Bush Katydid Caedicia simplex iNaturalist | Na e m a |
Similar Species: Gumleaf Katydid (Torbia viridissima) Thank you Stephen Fricker for confirming the id of this species for us ~25mm long. Females have a shortish, but visible, ovi-positor. Colours seem variable, with pure green like here, or with red highlights similar to our adult Torbia viridissima. Very hard to distinguish from Torbia sp. We've used the wing venation in relation to the leading edge as our guide. With these, the leading edge curves in, near the main vein, near the tip of the wing. With Torbia, it's leading edge is straighter, so apears further from the main vein. The legs of Torbia are also longer, so the rear thigh extends well past the end of the body. Where as here, with Caedicia, the knee is close to the end of the body. This is difficult to see as soon as there's any angle on the camera shot. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Spotted Predatory Katydid Chlorobalius leucoviridis iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us ~33mm long (head & body) female. The antennae, legs, wings and ovi-positor extend much further. Notic how the spots camouflage perfectly with Melaleuca lanceolata buds. Notice the large number of spines, 4 sided on the middle & rear tibia. Paired on the front tibia. They are white, with black tips, & paired on the ventral side of all 6 femurs. One female specimen found in Melaleuca lanceolata in Feb. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Upolu Grass Katydid Conocephalus upoluensis iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us ~15mm long, wingspan ~43mm & antennae ~33mm. At rest the wings extend well past the body. Variable in colour, they can also be green. This one was very pale, off white with a green tinge; the brown back wasn't very noticeable with the eye. Large head & eyes compared with body which makes us suspect it's nocturnal. Forewings are shorter than hindwings. The wing area near the body is quite strange & distinctive; having a 'ridge' between 2 'dips'; very cricket like. The anal spurs are diagnostic with these (their shape & location) | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Mottled Katydid Ephippitytha trigintiduoguttata iNaturalist | Na a |
Thank you Matthew Connors & Dianne Clarke for confirming the id of this species for us | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Calperum Gumleaf Katydid Terpandrus calperum iNaturalist | Na e m r | Thank you Robert Read for confirming the id of this species for us ~25mm long Note the black knees and 6 projections under the body. Location suggests this species and it doesn't match the photo in Rentz's Katydid book of T.splendidus. But there's precious little info on how to separate out the species. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Bush Katydid Tinzeda cf sp | Na e m a | You can see a pale line which appears to be a ridge above the abdomen behind the pronotum. With the male it's pink, white in the female. This are actually the edges of the forming hind wings. The anterior shot of the male highlights this quite well. There is also a very pale, broken line underneath the abdomen. These specimens were caught on the same day. Both were ~18mm long. The female has a very knife like, curved, ovipositor. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Southern Bush Katydid Tinzeda sororoides iNaturalist | Na e m | Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us 1st Live Photo on-line 1st Record in SA & 2nd in Australia on Atlas: Notice the diagnostic black spots along the top edge of the upper white wing stripe. We have now found 3 specimens (2m & 1f) in Oct, Nov & Dec. | |||
| Crickets, Grasshoppers & Katydids Orthoptera | Katydid Tettigoniidae | Gumleaf Katydid Torbia viridissima iNaturalist | Na e m a | Similar Species: Bush Katydid (Caedicia simplex) Thank you Matt Campbell & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us Adult Male, ~28mm long. Now that we have both Torbia & Caedicia here we can't be sure which genus the nymphs belong to. See our Caedicia observation for a discussion of differences. | |||
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