Elegant grasshopper

Description:

colourful medium-large grasshopper, about 40mm. this individual was particularly brightly coloured, some individuals are a lot more muted. As is characteristic of the Pyromorphidae family, Zonocerus can produce an obnoxious foam from the thorax region when they feel threatened hence the common family name Foam Grasshoppers . The nymphal stage starts out as gregarious, black and white hoppers.

Habitat:

in tangled grassy/weedy area within a cattle ranch; semi arid,sub tropical, bushveld. Although these grasshoppers are frequently associated with milkweeds, Senecios and Solanums all of which contain nasty alkaloids these particular grasshoppers were feasting on the amaranth, Hermbstadtia odorata

Notes:

these attractive grasshoppers can be a severe agricultural pest of irrigated vegetable and fruit growing areas.