Brown Locust vs Italian Acerentomid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brown Locust Italian Acerentomid
Scientific Name Locustana pardalina Acerentomon italicum
Order Orthoptera Protura
Family Acrididae Acerentomidae
Size 30-45 mm 0.7-1.2 mm
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions South Africa (Karoo region), Namibia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

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.

Italian Acerentomid

A small proturan originally described from Italian soils. It is typical of Mediterranean forest floor environments.

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Did You Know?

Like all proturans, this species was completely unknown to science until Filippo Silvestri first described the order in 1907.