Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids (Orthoptera)
Announcements
Yesterday
Hi All,We discovered some issues affecting new user registration via the mobile app today:SymptomsWhen attempting to register, you may unexpectedly receive an unhelpful "web service error" message.Wor...
Continue reading
NatureMapr partners with NSW BCT on next phase of Land Libraries
Discussion
DiBickers
wrote:
Yesterday
@RogerF so interesting, but much like so many other inverts, there’s always so many undescribed and so often unable to be determined without rearing juveniles/nymphs/larvae through to their adult form…. There is still so much to learn out there isn’t there🙃
Austracris guttulosa
RogerF
wrote:
Yesterday
Hi Di,
There are more undescribed species of grasshopper (Acrididae + Eumastacidae) than described (including 2 Austracris) and probably many more to be discovered, especially in the tropics, as well as 6 described species of Valanga plus V. irregularis. I know nothing about the nymphs of these others. The only way to connect nymphs to adults is by breeding in the lab. The unusual pink hind wing buds of 4643981are also a puzzle: does the adult have pinkish hind wings. Searching through iNat could be worthwhile.
There are more undescribed species of grasshopper (Acrididae + Eumastacidae) than described (including 2 Austracris) and probably many more to be discovered, especially in the tropics, as well as 6 described species of Valanga plus V. irregularis. I know nothing about the nymphs of these others. The only way to connect nymphs to adults is by breeding in the lab. The unusual pink hind wing buds of 4643981are also a puzzle: does the adult have pinkish hind wings. Searching through iNat could be worthwhile.
Austracris guttulosa
DiBickers
wrote:
Yesterday
Thanks so much @RogerF😊😊What you’ve explained in your comment was pretty much where I was at too & I’ve only ever recorded personal one for Valanga so wasn’t 100% on either. If you’re definitely happy with Austracris I will leave it as we have it💚
Austracris guttulosa
RogerF
wrote:
Yesterday
Hi Di, My comment on your original query that I posted yesterday seems to have disappeared into the ether. So here is another go!
Grasshopper nymphs are often notoriously difficult to ID because of variations in colour and patterns that vary between instars. I have had another look at the pictures in Rentz's book and agree that the lack of vertical stripes on the hind femur is more indicative of Austracris than Valanga. However, the urban sighting on garden bushes is more suggestive of Valanga than Austracris that is more of a grassland species. I should add that I am well outside the breeding range of these species and have rarely seen the nymphs in the field and am not aware of any other distinguishing features. Both species are very abundant and co-exist throughout tropical and sub tropical Australia
Grasshopper nymphs are often notoriously difficult to ID because of variations in colour and patterns that vary between instars. I have had another look at the pictures in Rentz's book and agree that the lack of vertical stripes on the hind femur is more indicative of Austracris than Valanga. However, the urban sighting on garden bushes is more suggestive of Valanga than Austracris that is more of a grassland species. I should add that I am well outside the breeding range of these species and have rarely seen the nymphs in the field and am not aware of any other distinguishing features. Both species are very abundant and co-exist throughout tropical and sub tropical Australia
Austracris guttulosa
Top contributors
- trevorpreston 770
- ConBoekel 280
- AlisonMilton 259
- KylieWaldon 226
- clarehoneydove 202
- TimL 191
- Hejor1 190
- CathB 181
- LisaH 152
- SteveBorkowskis 123
Top moderators
- RogerF 4.7K
- trevorpreston 423
- MichaelMulvaney 414
- KimPullen 142
- MichaelBedingfield 124
- clarehoneydove 65
- donhe 19
- DiBickers 17
- Curiosity 16
- KylieWaldon 4
