Phymateus

Description

Phymateus are African grasshoppers that typically are about 4–8.5 cm (1.6–3.3 in) long as adults, with females generally being larger than males of the same species. Some species at maturity are capable of long migratory flights. They raise and rustle wings when disturbed and may secrete a noxious fluid from the thoracic joint. Their toxins, which are accumulated from the toxic plants they feed on, can be very strong and there have been reported deaths in birds and mammals, including humans, after eating Phymateus grasshoppers. While they do show a preference for feeding on certain toxic plants, notably Asclepias milkweeds, they will feed on a wide range of plants, and are sometimes regarded as pests because of the damage they may cause to agricultural crops. They may congregate in large numbers on trees and shrubs, in some species arranged in such a way as to resemble foliage. Other species have bright aposematic warning colours. Although adults of both sexes are fully winged, in at least P. morbillosus the females, which are longer and considerably heavier than males, are unable to fly.