Australian King Cricket vs Brown Locust

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian King Cricket Brown Locust
Scientific Name Australostylus montanus Locustana pardalina
Order Orthoptera Orthoptera
Family Anostostomatidae Acrididae
Size Body 30-50 mm 30-45 mm
Habitat Forests Heathland
Diet Fungus Feeders Omnivores
Regions Australia South Africa (Karoo region), Namibia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian King Cricket

A large, robust cricket found in the cool mountain forests of southeastern Australia. It is flightless and nocturnal with powerful hind legs.

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Did You Know?

King crickets are closely related to New Zealand wetas and share a common Gondwanan ancestor.

Brown Locust

A medium-sized brown locust endemic to southern Africa that periodically swarms in the Karoo region. Nymphs are known as voetgangers (foot walkers).

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Did You Know?

Swarms of brown locusts have plagued South African farmers since the 1700s and remain a major agricultural threat.