Phymateus aegrotus

Phymateus aegrotus,^[1] sometimes called the blue bush locust^[2] or East African bush locust,^{[citation needed]} is a pest species of grasshopper in the family Pyrgomorphidae. Unlike "locusts" the adults are not known to change their morphology on crowding, but at the hopper stage, marching behaviour of small bands may occur.^[2]

Phymateus aegrotus
Museum specimen
Nymph
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Suborder:	Caelifera
Family:	Pyrgomorphidae
Subfamily:	Pyrgomorphinae
Tribe:	Phymateini
Genus:	Phymateus
Species:	P. aegrotus
Binomial name
Phymateus aegrotus (Gerstaecker, 1869)
Synonyms
Poecilocera aegrota Gerstaecker, 1869 Phymateus hildebrandti Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1884

Distribution

This species is present in Africa, Northeast Tropical Africa, Somalia.^[3][4]

Description

Phymateus aegrotus can reach a length of 80–100 millimetres (3.1–3.9 in) in males, of 60–80 millimetres (2.4–3.1 in) in females.^[5] Body is green in colour, while fore-wings are blackish and yellowish. The nymphs (hoppers) in the first instars are mostly black with several small yellowish markings, while in the last instar they are bright green.

Biology

P. aegrotus lay eggs in the substrate (humus-sand mix), The eggs hatch after about 12 months. The life expectancy of adult animals is of 8–12 months.^[5] They are capable of long migratory flights.

As with other Phymateus species it raises and rustles its wings when disturbed and may secrete a noxious fluid from its thoracic joint.^[6] Insects feed on Asclepias sp.. and bittersweet nightshade, Cestrum nocturnum.^[5]