Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Zonocerus

Zonocerus is a genus of African grasshoppers (Caelifera) in the family Pyrgomorphidae and the tribe Phymateini. Zonocerus elegans is found in central, eastern and southern regions, including Madagascar, and Z. variegatus found in western regions.

Last revised
Jul 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
233 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Zonocerus
Zonocerus variegatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Pyrgomorphidae
Subfamily: Pyrgomorphinae
Tribe: Phymateini
Genus: Zonocerus
Stål, 1873
Species

See text

Zonocerus is a genus of African grasshoppers (Caelifera) in the family Pyrgomorphidae and the tribe Phymateini.12 Zonocerus elegans is found in central, eastern and southern regions, including Madagascar, and Z. variegatus found in western regions.1

Description

Both species are significant agricultural pests, defoliating crops of African smallholder farmers. Both adults and nymphs have relatively bright, aposematic colours, and adults typically are about 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long.3

Species

The Orthoptera Species File1 and Catalogue of Life2 list the following:

  • Z. elegans nymph
    Z. elegans nymph
  • Z. variegatus nymph
    Z. variegatus nymph
  • Z. elegans, mating pair
    Z. elegans, mating pair
References

References

  1. "genus Zonocerus Stål, 1873". Orthoptera Species File (Version 5.0/5.0). Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  2. Roskov Y.; Kunze T.; Orrell T.; Abucay L.; Paglinawan L.; Culham A.; Bailly N.; Kirk P.; Bourgoin T.; Baillargeon G.; Decock W.; De Wever A. (2011). Didžiulis V. (ed.). "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist". Species 2000: Reading, UK. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  3. Whitman, D.; Vincent, S. (2008). "Large size as an antipredator defense in an insect". Journal of Orthoptera Research. 17 (2): 353–371. doi:10.1665/1082-6467-17.2.353.
External links