Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Locusts
  5. Australian locusts
  6. Locust and grasshopper identification guide
  7. Comparison of similar species
  8. Comparison of Australian plague locust and Heteropternis obscurella adults

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Locust and grasshopper identification guide Expand linksIn this section
    • Description of adults
      • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera
      • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa
      • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria
      • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata
      • 5. Other Austroicetes species
      • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis
      • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus
      • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species
      • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis
      • 10. Heteropternis obscurella
      • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species
      • 12. Urnisa guttulosa
      • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus
      • 14. Caledia captiva
      • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum
    • Description of nymphs
      • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera (nymph)
      • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa (nymph)
      • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria (nymph)
      • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata (nymph)
      • 5. Other Austroicetes species (nymph)
      • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis (nymph)
      • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus (nymph)
      • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species (nymph)
      • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis (nymph)
      • 10. Heteropternis obscurella (nymph)
      • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species (nymph)
      • 12. Urnisa guttulosa (nymph)
      • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus (nymph)
      • 14. Caledia captiva (nymph)
      • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum (nymph)

Comparison of Australian plague locust and Heteropternis obscurella adults

​​Comparison of Australian plague locust and Heteropternis obscurella adults

Australian Plague Locust - Chortoicetes terminifera

Graphic: side view of an adult Australian plague locust - note red tibia. Graphic: top view of an Australian plague locust showing wings - note dark tip on hindwing.

Heteropternis obscurella

Graphic: side view of an adult Heteropternis - note red tibia are similar to plague locust but body is stouter and darker coloured. Graphic: top view of an adult Heteropternis showing wings - note marking on hindwing is more of a smudge rather than a spot.

Major differences between adults of these species: Australian plague locust adults are readily confused with Heteropternis as both species have red tibia and dark markings on the tip of the hind wing. However, they can be differentiated by:

  • the marking on the hind wing of Heteropternis is more of a general smudge rather than a spot
  • Heteropternis has a stouter and darker coloured body
  • Heteropternis do not turn to face the observer on landing unlike the plague locust

Also Heteropternis rarely form into dense swarms unlike the plague locust.

Compare Australian plague locust adults with: | Austroicetes | Aiolopus | Caledia | Heteropternis | Oedaleus | Peakesia | Urnisa | Compare nymphs of these species

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 04 November 2019

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram
Back to top