Range

Australia is the native home of the blistered pyrgomorph. Here they are mainly found in the interior of the country. Their range covers parts of South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Habitat

Blistered pyrgmorphs can be found in arid areas.

Reproduction

Males attach to the back of the females during mating and may remain here for long periods of time.

Following a successful mating the female blistered pyrgomorph will dig her abdomen in to the ground and deposit her eggs. Each cluster of eggs is covered with foam.

Hatching occurs 2-4 months after the eggs are laid. This is often triggered by a cold snap. Eggs may take longer to hatch and it is possible for the same clutch of eggs to take many months for all of them to hatch.

Behavior

The blistered pyrgomoprh is a fairly sluggish grasshopper and typically walks rather than hops around.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators include birds such as ibis. They are also a victim of a mite which becomes a parasite on them.

When threatened they raise up the wing flaps to display bright red which warns predators that they taste foul and should not be eaten. This taste comes from the plants which they eat.

They may eat plants in human gardens which may lead to poisoning by pesticides.

Quick facts

This species is also known as the blistered grasshopper or inland painted grasshopper.