Kingdom Animalia Order Orthoptera Genus Austracris Higher classification Austracris | Phylum Arthropoda Family Acrididae Scientific name Austracris guttulosa Rank Species | |
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Similar Grasshopper, Insect, Australian plague lo, Acrididae, Orthoptera | ||
The spur-throated locust (Austracris guttulosa) is a native Australian insect in the family Acrididae and a significant agricultural pest.
Adult females of A. guttulosa are typically 45–65 millimetres (1.8–2.6 in) long, and adult males are typically 35–45 mm (1.4–1.8 in) long. Adults are pale brown with colourless wings and white and dark markings on the thorax. The hind legs are yellow with two rows of white spines. Juvenile spur-throated locusts are green or yellow. The backs of older juveniles may also show a dark or pale stripe.
The spur-throated locaust has a life span on between ten and 12 months, from autumn to summer. Overpopulation of spur-throated locausts is managed in Australia by the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
References
Spur-throated locust Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA