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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Locusts
  5. Australian locusts
  6. Locust and grasshopper identification guide
  7. Description of adults
  8. 10. Heteropternis obscurella

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Description of adults
    • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera
    • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa
    • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria
    • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata
    • 5. Other Austroicetes species
    • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis
    • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus
    • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species
    • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis
    • 10. Heteropternis obscurella
    • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species
    • 12. Urnisa guttulosa
    • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus
    • 14. Caledia captiva
    • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum

10. Heteropternis obscurella

​Adult description 10 of 15

Graphic: side view of an adult Heteropternis - similar to plague locust but thorax not saddle-shaped and has a stouter body. Graphic: photo of Heteropternis wings - similar to plague locust but has a dark smudge rather than dark spot on tip of hind wing.

Size: Females 25 to 35 mm, males 20 to 25 mm.

Adult Description: Colour usually dark brown even approaching black. In profile the head is level to slightly raised from the thorax which has a central ridge. The dark mottled wings have a darker spot at the end. Hind legs with a diamond shape on the upper femur and red tibia. Hind wings with a smoky tint with a darker spot at the end that is more of a general smudge than a distinct spot. No throat peg.

Confusion with Australian plague locust: Easily confused. It has a slight dark spot at the wing tips and red tibia. Also it is a similar size and shape. However, individuals do not turn to face the observer on landing from short flights - a habit of the plague locust easily recognised in the field.

Unique features: The combination of the thorax not being saddle shaped in profile, the tip of the hind wing having a general smudge and not a dark spot, with a stouter and darker coloured body.

Further information on this species: Description of nymph

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Page last updated: 04 November 2019

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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