Cornops aquaticum

Cornops aquaticum is a medium-sized grasshopper, with adults typically about 2.4–3.4 cm (0.94–1.34 in) in total length (head to wing tip); males average smaller than females. Adults are greenish with a distinct, broad black stripe on either side, running from the eye to the tip of the wing. During dry periods they become brown. The nymphs range from 0.6 to 3 cm (0.24–1.18 in), and are mottled in green-blue and orange-red.

Being semiaquatic and living on floating plants, both adults and nymphs of C. aquaticum are a strong swimmers and readily enter the water. They have been observed moving between aquatic plants as much as 1 m (3 ft 3 in) below the surface. If on land and seeing a predator like a bird, the grasshopper may attempt to crawl out of sight, jump or fly away, or dive into the water where it may stay submerged for an extended period of time. The adults are strong fliers and can move relatively long distances to access new regions with their preferred food plants. Adults live for 55–110 days; after an initial feeding period of four weeks, females deposit up to seven egg packets at intervals. Each packet contains 30–70 eggs. The female inserts its ovipositor into the leaf stalk of the host plant to deposit the egg packet; the egg cases are large, measuring an average of 27 by 3 mm (1.1 by 0.1 in). The eggs hatch after 25–30 days, and the nymphs feed on the leaves of the plant for about seven weeks, passing through six or seven instars, and causing much damage. Feeding trials show that besides water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), nymphs can complete their development on Eichhornia azurea and Pontederia cordata (pickerel weed), both also in the family Pontederiaceae, and on Canna indica. …