Southern Oak Bush-Cricket vs Brown Locust
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Oak Bush-Cricket | Brown Locust |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Meconema meridionale | Locustana pardalina |
| Order | Orthoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Tettigoniidae | Acrididae |
| Size | 11-15 mm | 30-45 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern and Western Europe (expanding northward) | South Africa (Karoo region), Namibia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
A small, wingless relative of the oak bush-cricket that has rapidly spread northward across Europe, likely aided by accidental transport in vehicles. It is fully arboreal and flightless.
Did You Know?
Being flightless, it likely spread across Europe by hitchhiking on cars and trucks parked under infested trees.
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).
Did You Know?
Swarms of brown locusts have plagued South African farmers since the 1700s and remain a major agricultural threat.