Alice Springs Fauna •
Alice Springs Orthoptera – Orthopteroids >
The Spur-throated Locust (Austracris guttulosa) is an Australian native species, whose life span is between 10 to 12 months (usually from autumn to summer). The one pictured here was observed in April during the autumn season of Central Australia.
The juvenile spur-throated locusts are green or yellow. The backs of older juveniles may also show a dark or pale stripe. The adults are pale brown and have colourless wings, white and dark markings on the thorax. The hind legs are yellow with two rows of white spines. The adult female are typically 45-65 mm long, whilst the male are typically 35-45 mm long.
Considered a significant agricultural pest, and during periods of overpopulation, the Spur-throated Locust is managed in Australia by the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
The Spur-throated Locust was found sheltering in a rose in a local urban garden in Alice Springs. It was possibly sheltering during the cold nights.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Orthoptera
- Suborder: Caelifera
- Superfamily: Acridoidea
- Family: Acrididae
- Subfamily: Catantopinae
- Tribe: Cyrtacanthacridini
- Genus: Austracris
- Species: Austracris guttulosa
Footnote & References
- Many thanks to Olivia Nettlefold for ID, member of Australian Orthopteroids, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1999965293682453
- Austracris guttulosa (Walker, 1870), Spur-Throated Locust, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Austracris guttulosa
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