Ruspolia nitidula - Cone-headed grasshopper - Animal India

Ruspolia nitidula, the Large Conehead, is a species belonging to the subfamily Conocephalinae of the family Tettigoniidae. It is found throughout Europe, Africa, and the Palearctic part of Asia. A vernacular name that has been used is "cone-headed grasshopper", although it is not a grasshopper, but rather a bush cricket.The species is green, large, and slender with a cone-shaped head. The apex of the head has a cream-colored band that goes through it and the eyes. Its size ranges from 32–60 mm (1.3–2.4 in). The wings of both sexes extend further than the abdomen. They can produce a high-pitched buzzing sound. This grasshopper is a serious pest and damage plants by feeding on leaves and stems, potentially causing defoliation and stunted growth. These effects can lead to significant crop yield loss, impacting farmers' livelihoods and potentially contributing to food scarcity. The cricket is commonly eaten in Uganda and the sale of them brings in a large amount of income, they are cooked by either sautéing, deep frying, or boiling and then they are dried. The price per unit weight is periodically higher than that of beef in Uganda markets. It is also commonly eaten by many East African tribes. A green cone-headed grasshopper (Ruspolia nitidula) insect hides and camouflages in the green leaves of the Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), or Tulsi plant to protect itself from predators at Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on 22/11/2024.