Keyacris scurra (Key's Matchstick Grasshopper)

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This rare and unusual grasshopper is flightless, and unlike most grasshoppers it is active during the winter. It is now a declared threatened species in NSW and a recovery program is being enacted. We would appreciate any records. See this page:- from the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee.

Listed as ‘Endangered’ in Australia under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and under ACT, NSW and VIC legislation.

SPRAT profile: https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=89739

"Grasshoppers lay their eggs in pods inserted into the soil. Most species hatch in spring, the immatures (nymphs) passing through several moults to mature in summer. Key’s Matchstick is unusual in that the eggs hatch in late summer or autumn. Males mature quickly, becoming adults by May, but females continue through the winter as nymphs, maturing in spring. Mating takes place in spring and early summer, followed by egg laying, then the adults die. Thus they avoid the desiccating summer conditions altogether. There is one generation per year.” The quote is from the Friends of Grasslands newsletter of Nov-Dec 2000, and the author was Kim Pullen.

Keyacris scurra is listed in the following regions:

Canberra & Southern Tablelands | South Coast