General Description

Female squat, long-legged and flightless; male more elongate and with fully-formed wings. Both sexes have long, wispy antennae. Colour mottled grey-brown, cream-white and black, but with bands of crimson and blue - normally hidden - along the edge of each abdominal segment. Body-length up to 5 cm.

Biology

These insects feed mostly on fireweeds and other herbs, from which they may assimilate toxins that make them distasteful to predators. They rely on camouflage to avoid detection. When threatened, females freeze while males emit a warning call. If further threatened, the wing-covers are raised and the abdomen arched and vibrated, revealing otherwise hidden bands of shimmering crimson and electric blue. Males also sing when defending territory or courting.

Distribution

Eastern Australia.

Habitat

Mostly high-altitude grasslands, heathlands and woodlands.

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