Acrida cinerea
Acrida cinerea, commonly known as the Oriental longheaded grasshopper or the Chinese grasshopper, is an insect in the Acrididae family. It is found across much of Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. It is considered a pest of many crops and, historically, has been eaten by people and studied for its potential use in poultry feed. The name “Chinese grasshopper” is sometimes also used for Oxya chinensis, which belongs to a different genus.
Description
- Size: Males are about 40–50 mm long; females are larger, about 70–80 mm.
- Color: Green or brown, with wings that are largely colorless.
- Features: Long legs adapted for jumping long distances. Acrida cinerea lacks the stridulatory organs on its legs, so it does not make noise while moving.
Habitat and distribution
- This species occurs in China, Korea, Japan, parts of Southeast Asia, and Indonesia.
- It is a pest of many agricultural crops, affecting crops in its wide range.
Taxonomy and names
- Binomial name: Acrida cinerea
- Synonyms include Acrida antennata, Acrida cinerea cinerea, Acrida csikii, Acrida koreana, Acrida lata, Truxalis chinensis, Truxalis cinereus, and Truxalis unicolor.
- Common names: Oriental longheaded grasshopper/locust and Chinese grasshopper. The term “Chinese grasshopper” is also used for other species in some contexts.
Notes on behavior
- Like other Acrida species, it does not produce sound with its legs and does not stridulate as it moves.
This page was last edited on 29 January 2026, at 00:43 (CET).