Spotted Locust

15 Nov 2024 15:24:51 pm

Tags : Spotted Locust

Topic: Biodiversity

Why in the news?

The changing climate pattern in the hill district poses a threat to its farming sector. Amid the crop loss suffered from incursions by wild animals and miscellaneous creatures like Malabar parakeets and snails, farmers in Idukki are now reeling under the menace of spotted locust infestation. At Konnathady and Vathikudy grama panchayats in Idukki, farmers have reported that grasshoppers in large numbers are engulfing their farms, leading to significant crop loss.

Source: The Hindu

About Spotted Locust:

It is a colorful grasshopper belonging to the family Pyrgomorphidae found in South and Southeast Asia.
It is commonly found in bushes or grasses in the agricultural area or forest.
The head and thorax are dark blue with yellow bands under the eyes to the mouth; the abdomen is red with black bands.
The legs are dark blue, and the femur has a yellow serrated pattern. The wings are green-brown with many yellow spots.
The bright warning colours keep away predators, and their defence when disturbed includes the ejection of a toxic foam.
This species can also make a sharp rasping voice.
The movement of this species is slow, which makes them easily caught.
It jumps in low and doesn’t fly.
It is an herbivore (folivore) insect that eats leaves of the host tree.