The Alien has landed

There are 750 known species of Australian grasshoppers in two families (Pyrgomorphidae and Acrididae). This is bound to be a common one, or so you would think, but I can't find much in the way of detail about it.

It looks like an alien, and it wouldn't have been spotted in our back garden if it hadn't moved at the right time.

Identifying Australian insects is a very time-consuming and mostly thankless task. Here is what Paladian has come up with in her research for me.

Identification
The Bark-mimicking Grasshopper is a grey-brown colour with textured pattern. They are very well camouflaged when at rest on a tree trunk. They have sword shaped antennae, flattened at the base like scissors. Their bulging eyes have a marbled pattern.

During the day time, they often rest on trees with rough bark surface, making them hard to see against the bark texture. Luckily this one was on a leaf. It can be found throughout mainland Australia.

Size
Body length 40mm-50mm.

Food
Feeds on foliage of acacia and other shrubs.

More like ET!

I love grasshoppers and last blipped one back on January 18th.