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Acanthoplus discoidalis
Spotted this on a farm near Kakamas, South Africa. Acanthoplus discoidalis (armoured ground cricket, armoured bush cricket, corn cricket or koringkrieke) is a species of katydid that is native to Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. They are wide-bodied, flightless and can grow to around 5 cm. Their thorax is covered in sharp spines and they have a pair of strong biting jaws. They are able to defend themselves against predators in an unusual manner by squirting haemolymph (insect blood) out of their bodies.[1] Their populations peak in autumn and their bodies often litter roads during this time. When deprived of protein and salt they can become cannibalistic.[2]
Spotted on Sep 25, 2009
Submitted on Jul 17, 2012
2 Comments
Thanks! Shot this while visiting family. Semi-desert surroundings except for the Orange River that flows through the region. Near the Kalahari Desert.
Wow look at this face this one is fantastic extraordinary shot :)