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African Armoured Cricket

Acanthoplus spp

Photo by samloftus61
Published on Project Noah
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-23.3738, 32.1652

Field Notes

Description:

Some sort of Armoured Cricket. I don't think it's the discoidalis species because it's so brightly colored.

Acanthoplus discoidalis are very common (pests) in southern Africa. For defense they have powerful biting jaws and are capable of squirting blood at attackers.

People try to keep them for pets in other countries (http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/african-armoured-cricket.html) --but be careful they resort to canabalism when their protein and salt levels are low and have an EAR piercing chirp. We call these "Fire alarm bugs"

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

gorgeous! Looks like some species of armored katydid.
Photographed
PublishedApril 18, 2013

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