Black Cone-headed Grasshoppers

Description:

large dark grasshopper; feeds on milkweed plants (Asclepias sinaica) which are poisonous plants; grasshoppers exude these poisons from their glands when they are threatened (see notes) (Photo #2: Mating pair, female larger one)

Habitat:

desert wadis

Notes:

Locally, this species is called "zagat", meaning "the one that sprays toxin onto girls' faces". Children sprayed by this grasshopper would say "zagat rashni", meaning "I have been sprayed in my eyes." Before Bedouin sit or stand near to a milkweed plant, they will throw stones at the bushes to scare off any of these grasshoppers.