19-10-2021 KUSADASI, TURKEY - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/132892-Anacridium-aegyptium

20-9-2021 GANDIA MARJAL, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/132892-Anacridium-aegyptium

30-3-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/132892-Anacridium-aegyptium

 

26-9-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

Anacridium aegyptium, the Egyptian grasshopper or Egyptian locust, is a species of insect belonging to the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae.

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts.  Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.

Anacridium aegyptium, commonly known as the Egyptian Grasshopper or Egyptian Tree Locust, is one of the largest grasshoppers in Europe. It is highly recognizable by its striped eyes, blue hind legs, and excellent arboreal camouflage.

Key Facts at a Glance

Size: Females are massive, reaching up to 6.5–7 cm in length. Males are significantly smaller, typically ranging from 3.5 to 5 cm.

Distinctive Eyes: The most definitive identification feature is their eyes, which feature clear, vertical black and white stripes.

Coloration: Bodies range from grey, brown, to olive, which helps them blend perfectly into tree bark and foliage. They feature an orange dorsal stripe on the neck (pronotum) and a row of small white spots.

Legs & Flight: The hind tibiae are blue with orange femora. Only the adults can fly, while nymphs are wingless and rely solely on jumping.

Habitat: Common across the Mediterranean (including southern regions like Spain), they prefer warm, dry scrublands, orchards, and olive groves.

Behavior: Unlike swarming locusts, this species is solitary and entirely harmless to crops. They are mostly leaf-eaters (folivorous).

Life Cycle: They overwinter as adults, mate in the spring, and the nymphs appear in the late spring.

3-5-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

Anacridium aegyptium, the Egyptian grasshopper or Egyptian locust, is a species of insect belonging to the subfamily Cyrtacanthacridinae.

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts.  Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.

9-6-2015 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts. Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.

29-10-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

Large and impressive the Egyptian Grasshopper is a common species around the Mediterranean. They are vegetarian and completely harmless to people, other than that they are often so well camouflaged they may startle you when they suddenly fly up in front of you as you walk.

Adult female Egyptian grasshoppers can reach a length of 6.5cm.

The male is smaller, growing to around 3.5cm. The antennae of both sexes are relatively short and robust. The spiny projections on the underside of the legs help the insect to cling to vertical surfaces.

The antennae are quite short and robust, the eye is diagnostic of the species - it is always striped. The pronuptum (the shield type shape behind the head, as seen in the image above) is distinctly ridged, like plates of armour.

The adult grasshoppers are generally grey, brown or olive coloured with variable patterns that allows them good camouflage against tree bark and other vegetation; green individuals may occur, but very infrequently.

If they are disturbed these grasshoppers can use their strong back legs for jumping

Both sexes fly very well at a good speed over short distances and can frequently be seen – and heard- doing so, making a distinctive ‘clattering’ sound.  

Eggs are laid in the spring just under the soil surface. The young grasshoppers are tiny when they first emerge as nymphs and can be found in a variety of colours including bright green, shades of brown and even a pale orange, a selection of which may be found feeding communally. They can be told apart from other grasshoppers by the shape and size of the pronotum  and if you can get a close enough look, they have the diagnostic vertical striped pattern in their eyes, which is visible at all growth stages.

The growing grasshoppers will undergo several moults during their first months; in the early stages the wings are only visible as tiny wing buds that enlarge gradually at each moult. It is not until they go through their last moult to adulthood that the wings develop fully.

Egyptian Grasshoppers can be found in a variety of habitats preferring warm dry areas of scrub land, maquis and areas with trees, including orchards and gardens; their diet consists of various leaves and a single insect will cause very little damage. They spend a lot of their time hiding amongst foliage and branches of shrubs and trees, and when they catch sight of you they will move slowly to the far side of  their ‘perch’, hoping you have not seen them.

This species is active throughout the year and can be found from sea-level to 1,500m.

15-11-2015 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts. Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.

7-6-2014 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

20-9-2014 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

28-3-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - EGYPTIAN LOCUST (Anacridium aegyptium)

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

A fairly common species, the Egyptian grasshopper is present in most of Europe, the Afrotropical realm, eastern Palearctic realm, the Near East, and North Africa, and has recently been observed in Cape Town, South Africa.

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis, and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea level to 1,500 m.

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. Adult males grow up to 30–56 mm (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) in length. Their bodies are usually gray, brown, or olive-coloured, and their antennae are relatively short and robust. The tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while the femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. They are also easily identified by their characteristic eyes, which have vertical black and white stripes. Their pronota show a dorsal orange stripe and several small white spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.

This species is a folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants. It is a solitary species, harmless to crops. Adults are mainly seen in August and September, but they are active throughout the year. After mating, these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface and the nymphs appear in April. These grasshoppers undergo several molts. Nymphs differ from adults in appearance; their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molt.