Phymateus leprosus
A close relative of the Green Milkweed Locust, the Leprous Grasshopper is equally adept at making my skin crawl, especially the adults. These large and scary locusts have a wide habitat tolerance, occuring from the dry Great Karoo to the mesic east coast and into the Lowveld. Their gregarious nymphs congregate and move in colourful clusters, advertising their poisonous nature by their bold colouration. Indeed, so poisonous are these grasshoppers that human fatalities from ingesting them has been recorded. This toxicity stem from their preferred foodplants from the milkweed family, though they can be a pest in young citrus trees as well. For an insect, Leprous Grasshoppers have a long lifecycle and are slow-growing; eggs may take 6 months to hatch after which it takes a year for the nymphs to develop to adulthood. The adults may live for up to 8 months.
Definitely would make anyone’s skin crawl! Not a favorite of mine but thanks for the informative info!
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I am glad I am not the only one freaked out by these creepy-crawlies! 😀
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The stuff of nightmares, Dries. In addition to being poisonous, are they destructive ravaging the landscape?
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The Leprous Grasshopper doesn’t seem to have the same tendency to swarm in massive numbers as many of their close relatives do, Jane, though I wouldn’t go as far as saying that they never do.
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Fortunately, I have only had a few adult visitors to my garden.
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They can be especially worrisome if you have pets!
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They’re beautifully colored, but starting with the name I’d say “No thanks!” And their appeal didn’t improve from there.
janet
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I’m squarely in your corner in this fight, Janet! 😀
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The stuff of nightmares. 😱 Great photos though
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Thanks, Sylvia! My own photos of them will give me nightmares!
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It’s not an insect that you want in your territory. Keep them there.please. 🙂
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I’m not going to get in their way, H.J. Sorry. 😀 😀
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Scary sprinkane maar hul is baie goed om te ontleed in biologie klas. Hul stink ook nogal.
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Dis juis daai stank wat met die giftigheid saamgaan, Ineke. Hierdie kreature maak my vel kriewel.
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Ek was doerdie tyd baie braaf om hul te vang en skooltoe te vat in n bottel. Hul kan ook darem maar hele gebiede koaal vreet as hul so in n menigte uitbroei en aankom.
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