Page 43 - World of Animals - Issue #30
P. 43
Leaping legends
Rainbow grasshopper
A snazzy species that can’t fly
RAINBOW
GRASSHOPPER Rainbow grasshoppers are so-called
Dactylotum bicolor because of their psychedelic colouring.
Class Insecta
As with many such insects, this kind of
bright banding is an important deterrent
and acts as a visual warning to the lizards
and birds that tend to prey on them. This
Territory North America,
Mexico is particularly important because the
Diet Leaves, grasses grasshoppers’ wings are so small and under-
Lifespan Unknown developed that they cannot fly, making
Adult weight Unknown
Conservation status a swift getaway more difficult. Even so,
they have a trick up their sleeve if they are
caught: a rich diet of grasses and broad-
NOT EVALUATED leafed herbaceous plants makes them very
unpleasant to taste.
“The bright banding is an important
deterrent and a visual warning to the
lizards and birds that prey on them”
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