Gastrimargus musicus

Yellow-winged grasshopper
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Acrididae
Subfamily: Oedipodinae
Tribe: Locustini
Genus: Gastrimargus
Species:
G. musicus
Binomial name
Gastrimargus musicus
Fabricius, 1775

Gastrimargus musicus, the yellow-winged locust[1] or yellow-winged grasshopper, is a common grasshopper in Australia. It only displays its yellow back wings in flight, when it also emits a loud clicking or crackling sound.[2] When swarming, the adults become dark brown.[2]

They are sometimes confused with the Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera), though the yellow winged locust is "stouter and larger". In north Australian savannas it remains a solitary species.[2]

Adult females range from 35 to 50 mm, while males are smaller ranging from 25 to 35 mm.[3]

  • Grasshopper with its head stuck in a barbed wire fence displays its yellow back wings
    Grasshopper with its head stuck in a barbed wire fence displays its yellow back wings
  • Illustration
    Illustration

References

  1. ^ Cigliano, M. M.; Braun, H.; Eades, D. C.; Otte, D. "species Gastrimargus musicus (Fabricius, 1775)". orthoptera.speciesfile.org. Orthoptera Species File. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus". Australian Government, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry. Archived from the original on 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  3. ^ "7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus". Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Australian Government.