Australian Orthopteroids
GrasshoppersBlistered Pyrgomorph Giant Grasshopper (Valanga irregularis) Macrotona Queensland Spotted Pyrgomorph (Greyacris profundesulcata)
The interesting looking Blistered Pyrgomorph (Monistria pustulifera) is a colourful grasshopper that are often found feeding on Eremophila sp., in particular the Eremophila gilesii (Giles Emu bush).
The adults develop a pair of small wings that render them incapable of flight, although there are the occasional ones that have the full wings and can fly. They are not very active and typically walk as opposed to hopping around, although their larger back pair of legs are used for hopping.
The female Blistered Pyrgomorph measure up to 6.5 cm long and are almost twice the size of the male. Pictured below is a mating pair, with the smaller male mounted on the larger female.
Occasionally they can defoliate plants but most of the plants will regrow new leaves
within a few months. Once the female has mated she will deposit her eggs into sandy substrate covered with a foam plug to prevent the eggs from drying out. The strong colours are a clear indicator to predators that they do not taste good and to leave them alone.
Common name
Blistered grasshopper, Inland painted grasshopper
Images © CK Leel
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Orthoptera
- Suborder: Caelifera
- Superfamily: Acridoidea
- Family: Pyrgomorphidae
- Subfamily: Pyrgomorphinae
- Tribe: Monistriini
- Genus: Monistria
- Species: Monistria pustulifera
Footnote & References
- Monistria pustulifera (Walker, 1871), Blistered Pyrgomorph, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/ca83424b-cbd2-4c38-84d9-061ad73e6be5
GrasshoppersBlistered Pyrgomorph Giant Grasshopper (Valanga irregularis) Macrotona Queensland Spotted Pyrgomorph (Greyacris profundesulcata)
OrthopteraGarden Mantis Grasshoppers Blistered Pyrgomorph Giant Grasshopper (Valanga irregularis) Macrotona Queensland Spotted Pyrgomorph (Greyacris profundesulcata)
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub