Petasida_ephippigera
Petasida
Genus of grasshoppers
Petasida ephippigera, the Leichhardt's grasshopper, is a relatively large, brightly coloured pyrgomorph species of grasshopper in the monotypic genus Petasida, native to the Top End region of tropical northern Australia.[1][2]
The Leichhardt's grasshopper is largely restricted to remote sandstone areas with Pityrodia shrubs, which are the main food source for both the adults and the nymphs.[2][3][4] Although this shrub is quite widespread in the region, the Leichhardt's grasshopper appears to be local, scarce and declining for reasons that are not fully understood, but the controlled burning practices within its range are possibly part of the explanation.[2][3] The Leichhardt's grasshopper is one of the most emblematic animals of the Kakadu National Park (seeing it there requires some effort), and it also occurs in the Nitmiluk and Keep River National Parks.[5]