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| Egyptian grasshoppers have striped eyes Photo credit: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
An Everett resident reported one Egyptian grasshopper (Anacridium
aegyptium) to Washington
State entomologists earlier this year and USDA entomologists recently confirmed
it as the first detection of the insect in Washington State. The Washington
State Department of Agriculture will conduct visual surveys in the area but is asking
the public to also be on the lookout for this large grasshopper with striped
eyes.
The grasshoppers typically feed on plant leaves. Adults are usually olive, gray, or brown in color and are most likely to be seen toward the end of summer. Young grasshoppers can be green and may blend in with vegetation. Males can grow to over two inches
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| While young Egyptian grasshoppers are green, they still have striped eyes. Photo credit: Metin Gulesci |
long and females can be almost three inches long. The key to identifying these insects is their eyes - they have distinct black striping on their eyes that sets them apart from other grasshoppers.
“An overwintering grasshopper could easily hitchhike, so
this is another case where we are asking the public to help us figure out if
this is just a single specimen,” Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist,
said. Only one living, but sluggish, grasshopper has been confirmed. There is
currently no evidence of an established population.
Residents near Everett who believe they have seen this insect
should send a photo to pestprogram@agr.wa.gov
for identification and include the location where it was spotted. If you
believe you have seen one outside of Washington State, please take a picture of
it, note the location, and report it to your State Plant Regulatory
Official or State
Plant Health Director.
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| Adult Egyptian grasshopper Photo credit: Metin Gulesci |