Sighting 4643981
2 Spur-throated Locust at Katherine, NT
Identification history
| Austracris guttulosa | 1 Mar 2025 | RogerF | ||
| Valanga irregularis | 1 Mar 2025 | RogerF | ||
| Valanga irregularis | 3 Feb 2025 | HelenCross |
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6 comments
DiBickers
wrote:
1 Mar 2025
@RogerF I’ve been caught before, thinking Valanga but was told Austracris due to lack of banding on hind legs. I’m keen to learn if there is any other way to tell the difference between Austracris guttulosa and Valanga irregularis as a nymph?
DiBickers
wrote:
2 Mar 2025
@HelenCross would you mind if I shared your photos to one of the entomology groups I’m in so I can Tag one of the guys who is an entomologist? I’m not 100% on the keys identifiers for either Valanga or Austracris (I merely queried Valanga because of past history with being incorrect). I would like to be certain this is going through to ALA from NatureMapr under the correct one.
RogerF
wrote:
2 Mar 2025
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
DiBickers
wrote:
2 Mar 2025
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💚
RogerF
wrote:
2 Mar 2025
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.
Location information
- Coordinates 132.270206-14.446044
- Altitude 158.1m
- Places Katherine, NT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 3 Feb 2025 06:42 PM Recorded on
- HelenCross Recorded by
-
Collections
HelenCross NatureMapr Top End and Big Rivers Grasshoppers (several families) Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids (Orthoptera) Insects
Additional information
- Larvae or nymphs Breeding behaviour
- 50mm or larger Animal size
Species information
- Austracris guttulosa Scientific name
- Spur-throated Locust Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1334.85m Recorded at altitude
- Machine learning
- External link More information
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
