Sigaus australis is the most common alpine grasshopper found in New Zealand. It can be found in the southern half of the South Island above the tree line. Sigaus australis was described in 1897 by Frederick Hutton. Like all of New Zealand sub-alpine and alpine grasshoppers S. australis has a 2 or 3 years life cycle. Individuals can survive the cold by freezing solid at any life stage, at any time of the year. Sigaus australis adults are relatively large grasshoppers (females ~ 26mm, 0.8g). The genus Sigaus is endemic to New Zealand.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Sigaus australis being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Sigaus crassicauda
- Sigaus nitidus
- Sigaus piliferus
- Sigaus collinus
- Phaulacridium marginale
- Sigaus campestris
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Orthoptera
- Family
- Acrididae
- Genus
- Sigaus
- Species
- Sigaus australis
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