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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  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 nymphs
  8. 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa (nymph)

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

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

2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa (nymph)

​Nymph description 2 of 15

Graphic: photo of 3rd and 5th stage spur-throated locust nymphs - note white stripe on top of thorax.

Distribution

Graphic: Distribution map - found mainly in northern Australia but can migrate into southern areas during spring and summer.

Nymph Description: Colour is variable. Early instars tend to be green with variations from orange to yellow and straw. Later instars the become grey as they approach the adult stage. Patterns of dark spots in early instars become less distinct in later stages. In profile the body of tends to be held with the head very high. In early instars the line of the top of the body is concave but becomes very straight in later instars. From above, the body is proportionally thinner than other locust nymphs. The oblong eye is vertical in profile and appears larger than it is because a dark thin stripe flows out of it downward. The rear legs are long and visibly thinner than in most other species. No bands on the femur. The slightly crested thorax develops a bright light stripe against a darker patch (like in adults).

Confusion with Australian plague locust: Too big and elongate to be confused.

Confusion with Valanga: Both have a large, long, often colourful body with long black legs (compare photos).

Confusion with Bermius: Young Austracris nymphs are similar in size and colour to older Bermus nymphs but the same size individuals have shorter wing buds and lack the dark body stripe of Bermius (compare photos).

Unique features: The combination of size, elongate and patternless coloured body with thin long black legs, distinguish them from plague locust nymphs. The main difference from Valanga is the generally uniform colour of the body with no bands on the rear femur and the presence of a white stripe on the top of the thorax.

Further information on this species: Description of adult, More images, Distribution, Biology

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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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