Perunga ochracea (Perunga grasshopper, Cross-dressing Grasshopper)

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The species appears to have a small range stretching 180 km east–west and 150 km north–south and including Murrumbateman, Gundaroo, the ACT and Bungendore. However, the area of occupancy within much of this range is likely to be low because habitat alteration and fragmentation have reduced or destroyed populations.

This small grasshopper is characterised by a pale cross on the upper side of the thorax and vestigial wings. The species is flightless—but it can leap more than a metre. Females are about 30 millimetres long and males about half that. The colours on its back can vary from year to year, with a tendency toward grey-brown in dry years and greenish in wet years.

Nymphs hatch in late summer and autumn and develop over the winter and early spring. They only have a 12-month cycle. The grasshoppers eat forbs (small flowering plants).

Roger Farrow proposes that the common name for this species, which mainly occurs in the Canberra area, be the Cross-dressing Grasshopper so people remember the name and look out for it. The name is appropriate as it has a cross on its back, can change its colour from flourescent green to khaki brown depending on the colour of the grass around it, the extremities of its feet are blue and look like it is wearing blue high heels, and its wings are just stumps, only useful as fashion accessories

Please try not to handle this grasshopper as it can easily cause a leg(s) to be lost.

Further references:

ACT Government threatened species factsheet

ACT Government Action Plan

Perunga ochracea is listed in the following regions:

Canberra & Southern Tablelands