Wahlberg’s Bush Cricket

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Clonia wahlbergii

I wish I was brave enough to put one of these insects on my hand and show you just how gigantic they are. But I am not… And my fear isn’t entirely irrational as these katydids, whose bodies measure up to 7cm without including any appendages in the calculation, are reported to have a very nasty bite. Something which I hope never to have to put to the test.

Clonia walhbergii is a nocturnal predator, ferociously feeding on large insects and other invertebrates unlucky enough to cross its path. In South Africa this species is found from the Eastern Cape, through the coastal and bushveld areas of Kwazulu-Natal, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province, along the Limpopo Valley right through to the Kalahari regions of North West and the Northern Cape, occurring in habitats that varies from forest margins to arid savanna. It seems not much is known about their reproductive cycle except that eggs are laid in the ground.

With the kind help of wildlife photographer Brian Pettit (http://www.naturepicturesworldwide.com/ & https://www.zambezicruisesafaris.com/our-blog/), this massive insect was identified as the bush cricket Clonia wahlbergii
With the kind help of wildlife photographer Brian Pettit (http://www.naturepicturesworldwide.com/ & https://www.zambezicruisesafaris.com/our-blog/), this massive insect was identified as the bush cricket Clonia wahlbergii
A huge bush cricket (Clonia wahlbergii) that shared our open-air shower at Mapungubwe National Park
Bush Cricket (Clonia wahlbergii)
Bush Cricket (Clonia wahlbergii)
Bush Cricket (Clonia wahlbergii)
Wahlberg’s Bush Cricket
Wahlberg’s Bush Cricket

31 thoughts on “Wahlberg’s Bush Cricket”

  1. aj vosse

    Imagine – little town crickets make a big noise… so, this monster is sure to make siren calls to warn of it’s imminent attack (of humans!) 😁😁😁

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Problem is they don’t always want to keep their distance the same way I do. I’ve learned not to look back immediately when something lands behind me when we’re out camping… 😀

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  4. Writer Lori

    Holy smokes, that is NOT your garden variety cricket! I don’t blame you for steering clear, and like you, I think if one of those landed on my neck, I would die of a heart attack before the beast even had a chance to bite me….😉

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  10. H.J. for avian101

    This cricket is like a combination of the praying mantis and a locust. Isn’t it? Don’t you have any nice bugs? I take it that you don’t like them. 🙂

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      We have some reaaally scary insects around these parts, H.J, which is why I try to balance posts like this with posts about beautiful African butterflies… But I tell you, the moment one of these bush crickets land in my neck will in all likelihood be my last on this earth. 😀

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