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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. 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata

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

4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata

​Adult description 4 of 15

Graphic: side view of an adult A. cruciata - similar to the Australian plague locust but lacks dark spot on hindwing and tibia shanks are not red. Graphic: top view of A. cruciata adult showing clear hindwing.

Size: Females 25 to 35 mm, males 15 to 25 mm

Adult Description: Colour can vary from brown to greenish in both sexes and during swarming, the males can be bright yellow. In profile the head is raised above the saddle shaped thorax. The top of the thorax has a faint 'X' mark, with the rear half more prominent. The rear of the thorax is wider than the head. The rear leg femur has two distinctive dark triangles and the tibia colour varies from pale straw to pink and orange but as red as in the Australian plague locust. Hind wing is clear with a dark margin on the forward edge only. Throat peg absent.

Confusion with Australian plague locust: Very similar shape and behaviour, including that of swarming (compare photos).

Unique features: The combination of distinctive triangles on the rear femur, with the dark forward edge of the hind wings. The size is usually smaller than that of the Australian plague locust in the same area and the tibia are not red. Some other species of Austroicetes have the dark forward edge on the hind wing but most do not have the thorax as wide at the rear. Only A. cruciata has a yellow swarm phase.

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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