Phymateus viridipes
| Green milkweed locust | |
|---|---|
| |
| Feeding on leaves of Acokanthera oppositifolia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Caelifera |
| Family: | Pyrgomorphidae |
| Genus: | Phymateus |
| Species: | P. viridipes
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phymateus viridipes Stål, 1873
| |
Phymateus viridipes, also known as the green milkweed locust or African bush grasshopper, is an African locust in the family Pyrgomorphidae (gaudy grasshoppers).
Body characteristics
[edit]It is about 70 millimetres (2.8 in) long at maturity and capable of long migratory flights. Its body and fore-wings are green in colour while the hind-wings are bright red and blue, presenting a striking appearance in flight.
The pronotum, or dorsal area immediately behind the head, is covered in spines or carbuncles which are often tipped with red.
Development
[edit]The nymphs or hoppers are bright yellow and black and highly gregarious, forming large groups during this growth stage and are more or less polyphagous.[1]
Behaviour
[edit]As with other Phymateus species it raises and rustles its wings when disturbed and may secrete a noxious fluid from its thoracic joint.[2] This locust feeds on highly toxic plants such as Acokanthera oppositifolia, Cascabela thevetia and Secamone alpinii. They congregate in large numbers on trees and shrubs, arranged in such a way as to resemble foliage.
Gallery
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Kevan, D. Keith M. (1949). "Notes on East African bush locusts with special reference to Phymateus aegrotus (Gerstaecker 1869) (Orth., Acrid., Pyrgomorphinae)". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 40 (3): 359–369. doi:10.1017/S0007485300022835.
- ^ Field Guide to Insects - Picker, Griffiths & Weaving (2004)