Wildlife of the Month

Illustration © Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Spotted Mountain Grasshopper (Southern pyrgomorph)

The Spotted Mountain Grasshopper generally refers to one of a number of types of alpine grasshopper – Monistria concinna, or Southern pyrgomorph. It occurs in eight different forms, each with its own distinct colour, which is likely to be an adaptation to its particular environment.

Four of these types of Spotted Mountain Grasshoppers are found in the Murray-Darling Basin:

• The Victorian Alpine type – which is black to black-olive or dark purplish-brown, with medium yellow spots over the entire body;

• The New South Wales type – which is dull green to olive, with lots of medium-small circular spots;

• The Montane type – which is brown to purple, with fewer, less circular, unevenly distributed spots that form irregular longitudinal stripes, and

• The New England type – which is brown to purple with substantial olive areas and spots similar to the Montane type, but more limited striping, and the face has 1-2 pairs of very small spots.

They have a smooth cone-shaped head but its body is covered with lumps and holes. Males and females look alike, with the female being bigger than the male.

They live in a range of habitats, from steep rocky slopes to flat land, and on a variety of soil and plant types.

The Spotted Mountain Grasshoppers live in alpine and sub-alpine areas, even throughout winter when temperatures fall below freezing 0' C. They are able to survive such low temperatures due to a type of anti-freeze substance in their haemolymph (blood-like fluid). Most insects die when temperatures reach freezing point.