Common macrotona

Common macrotona
Female, laying eggs
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Acrididae
Subfamily: Catantopinae
Tribe: Catantopini
Genus: Macrotona
Species: M. australis
Binomial name
Macrotona australis
(Walker, 1870)[1]

The common macrotona (Macrotona australis) is found in southern and eastern Australia.[2]

Taxonomy

Macrotona australis was first described by Francis Walker in 1870. Synonyms include Eumacrotona bella, Eumacrotona simplex, Heteracris australis, Macrotona gracilis, Macrotona lineola.[1]

Description

Size ranges from 1.7 to 3.0 cm.[3] Colour varies from red to grey. Most individuals have a bronze colouring behind the rear legs.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Its presence has been verified across mainland Australia and Tasmania but not in the Northern Territory.[4]

It is commonly found with spinifex grass in heath habitats.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Bisby FA; Roskov YR; Orrell TM; Nicolson D; Paglinawan LE; Bailly N; Kirk PM; Bourgoin T; van Hertum J (2009-04-02). "Common Macrotona". Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  2. Daley, Elizabeth (2007). Wings: An introduction to Tasmania's winged insects. Riffles Pty Ltd.
  3. 1 2 3 "Common Macrotona Grasshopper Fact File". Wildlife of Sydney. Archived from the original on September 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  4. "Macrotona australis (Walker)". CSIRO. 19 September 2004. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
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