Wooden grasshopper or Javanese grasshopper (Valanga nigricornis) is an animal species of Acrididae, grasshoppers that have at least 18 subspecies, insects with very wide diversity in color and size, sexual dimorphism in which females are larger in size and paler in color.
V. nigricornis in males has a length of 45-55 millimeters and females 15-75 mm. The head is square and green or yellow or brown or black in color. A pair of antennas has a black color. The eyes are large and gray or white or brownish.
The hind legs are very large and have a green or yellow or brown or black color, plain or brindle. The limbs have two rows of large and long spines with black tips facing backward.
The wings have a length exceeding the belly, a rough surface and are brown or green or yellow or black in color with pulse lines forming spaces filled with black color. The hind wings are rose red which will be visible when flying.
Nymphs are pale green or yellow or brown or blackish in color. Javanese grasshopper has one generation each year in which four eggs are laid in moist soil. The eggs are dormant throughout the dry season and take six to eight months to hatch. The eggs hatch into nymphs and pass through seven instar stages before becoming fully mature and winged.
Wooden grasshopper lives arboreal in forests and agricultural lands. The insects are solitary and do not form swarms, however outbreaks often occur in dry years because heavy rains cause high mortality rates for eggs and nymphs.
V. nigricornis is used as a source of animal protein in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, and is an inspiration for various batik patterns. On the other hand, this grasshopper is a pest in several plantation and agricultural areas.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Infraorder: Acrididea
Superfamily: Acridoidea
Family: Acrididae
Subfamily: Cyrtacanthacridinae
Tribe: Cyrtacanthacridini
Genus: Valanga
V. nigricornis in males has a length of 45-55 millimeters and females 15-75 mm. The head is square and green or yellow or brown or black in color. A pair of antennas has a black color. The eyes are large and gray or white or brownish.
The hind legs are very large and have a green or yellow or brown or black color, plain or brindle. The limbs have two rows of large and long spines with black tips facing backward.
The wings have a length exceeding the belly, a rough surface and are brown or green or yellow or black in color with pulse lines forming spaces filled with black color. The hind wings are rose red which will be visible when flying.
Nymphs are pale green or yellow or brown or blackish in color. Javanese grasshopper has one generation each year in which four eggs are laid in moist soil. The eggs are dormant throughout the dry season and take six to eight months to hatch. The eggs hatch into nymphs and pass through seven instar stages before becoming fully mature and winged.
Wooden grasshopper lives arboreal in forests and agricultural lands. The insects are solitary and do not form swarms, however outbreaks often occur in dry years because heavy rains cause high mortality rates for eggs and nymphs.
V. nigricornis is used as a source of animal protein in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, and is an inspiration for various batik patterns. On the other hand, this grasshopper is a pest in several plantation and agricultural areas.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Infraorder: Acrididea
Superfamily: Acridoidea
Family: Acrididae
Subfamily: Cyrtacanthacridinae
Tribe: Cyrtacanthacridini
Genus: Valanga