Giant Grasshopper

Description:

The Giant Grasshoppers are the largest grasshoppers in Australia. They are also commonly known as Giant Valanga and Hedge Grasshoppers, and are native to Australia. The adult size varies from 60-90mm. Colours can vary.

Habitat:

Adults and nymphs usually feed on broad-leaved shrubs, such as acalypha and hibiscus, but also damage palms. This is a common and conspicuous grasshopper in coastal south-east Queensland that thrives in well-watered suburban gardens. It occurs in open forest close to the coast, from northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland to northern New South Wales.

Notes:

Grasshoppers devour my basil and happy plant, but my cats devour grasshoppers. This one has made a lucky escape and is hiding from me, the camera, the cats... everyone! He thinks he's safe behind the screen, and he is... for now. Some years ago, one of my cats, an expert grasshopper catcher, would bring them home and dismember them, eating all but the legs and wings. Littered all over the house were little piles of grasshopper remains, and they were so neatly arranged in a uniform fashion they looked like tiny religious icons. Needless to say I was the one who had the duty of sweeping them up. The vacuum cleaner was useless in this case as the grasshoppers' legs would clog the hose.