The Zonocerus variegatus

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The Zonocerus variegatus

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The Zonocerus variegatus, also often known as the "Giant Grasshopper" or "Variegated Grasshopper," is a large and colourful insect species about 3-4 inches from the tip of its antenna to its abdomen.
Its body has some black, white, and yellow colouration with black markings on its wings and legs. The head has two big compound eyes and a pair of stunted, segmented antennae. With two teeth-like mandibles for chowing.

When fully grown, it has large wings that are folded when not in use. The wings have black veins that run through them. The wings are used for flying over long distances while a pair of long and powerful hind legs are used for quick displacement when evading a predator. The hind legs are also armed with spikes.

You can find this species of grasshopper in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. They are also found in Nigerian farms and gardens. They inhabit grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands. Once you catch one of these, they would release a foul-tasting defence secretion from its mouth and joints. The released fluids can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions in some people.

A few Zonocerus variegatus in your farm would not constitute a problem, but when conditions are favourable, these grasshopper can contribute to the formation of swarms made up of thousands of individual grasshoppers able to destroy vast green-lands and farms.

The females will select their mates based on their size and colour. The males are often in intense competition over mating rights

After mating, females lay their eggs in moist soil or vegetation, typically in batches of 20-50 eggs. After some weeks of incubation, it goes through incomplete metamorphosis, a process also known as hemimetabolism, changing from nymph to an adult grasshopper. Depending on the availability of food, temperature, and other environmental factors, the change could occur within months or even take a whole year, moulting many times during the process as they grow.

With proper preparation and processing, this grasshopper becomes a source of protein in the food of many in both African and some Asian countries.

The Zonocerus variegatus is truly a fascinating insect with a truly colourful appearance.