About Dictyophorus spumans (Thunberg, 1787)
Dictyophorus spumans, commonly called the koppie foam grasshopper, rooibaadjie, or African foam grasshopper, is a species of grasshopper belonging to the family Pyrgomorphidae that is native to southern Africa. The common name "foaming grasshopper" comes from this insect's ability to produce toxic foam from glands located on its thorax. This foam is made by combining hemolymph with air taken from the grasshopper's spiracles. The genus Dictyophorus, which contains this species, is closely related to the genus Phymateus. Adult males of the species usually measure 4.5–5 cm (1.8–2.0 in) in length, while adult females usually measure 5–7 cm (2.0–2.8 in), and females can grow as long as 8 cm (3.1 in). The neck shield of Dictyophorus spumans has a warty surface. The body coloration of this grasshopper is highly variable, but almost always has at least some contrasting, bright areas. It is toxic because it collects and stores poisons from the plants it eats; its diet includes many toxic and distasteful plant species such as milkweed.
