Variegated grasshopper

Definition

A common name for Zonocerus variegatus, a pyrgomorphid grasshopper native to tropical Africa, recognized by its striking aposematic coloration of black, yellow, and red or orange. The species is a significant agricultural pest of cassava, yams, and various vegetables, with both nymphs and adults feeding on leaves and stems. Its bright coloration advertises chemical defenses sequestered from host plants, a characteristic trait of the so-called 'gaudy grasshoppers' in the family Pyrgomorphidae.

Etymology

From Latin variegatus (variegated, multicolored), referring to the species' contrasting warning coloration; 'grasshopper' from Old English græshoppa.

Example

In Nigeria, outbreaks of the variegated grasshopper can defoliate entire cassava fields, with aggregating nymphs forming dense bands that move through crops sequentially.

Synonyms

• painted grasshopper

Related Terms

• Pyrgomorphidae
• Zonocerus variegatus
• gaudy grasshopper
• aposematic coloration
• cassava pest
• acridid
• phytophagous

Usage Notes

The common name is applied specifically to Zonocerus variegatus; other variegated grasshopper species exist (e.g., in genera like Aularches), so context matters. Specialists typically prefer the scientific name to avoid ambiguity. Not to be confused with the North American 'painted grasshopper' Dactylotum bicolor (family Acrididae), which shares a common name synonym but belongs to a different family and continent.