Giant carnivorous grasshopper

Hey guys,

I just wanted to share a video I took last week. While I was on a very intensive hike in the Israel Golan heights I stumbled across a very large insect moving through a hot dry field.
The insect I had come across was none other than Saga ephippigera the "carnivorous grasshopper". Upon my return home in Haifa I immediately did some research.

I found out from an Israeli that these insects are known to overpower prey and clasp with their large spiny arms. Their diet consists of other invertebrates, reptiles (including vipers!) eat small rodents and occasionally birds that touch down for a peck. Holding them should be avoided because of their powerful grip and ability to do some serious mechanical damage with their mandibles (my bad :P).

There is no info on these guys internet wise! Just a little taxonomy info, a few images here and there but overall nothing ! I'm quite surprised considering what an impressive insect this truly is!

That all being said, I hope you guys enjoy one of very few video clips of a vicious and incredible insect. I apologize in advance for the quality of the footage (I didn't feel comfortable bringing my camera on this hike since there was a lot of swimming through rivers and hanging off of cliffs involved!

Enjoy!

Dayyan

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Reptiliatus
• large insect
• insect
• bug
• grasshopper
• carnivore
• big
• bugs
• carnivorous grasshopper
• Israel
• Golan heights
• hot
• sunny
• sun
• hike
• travel
• outdoors
• invertabrate
• biggest insect
• huge insect
• biggest bug
• holding big insect
• saga
• ephippigera
• desert
• nature

[EdISTF]

why do i always end up in this part of youtube?

[Omerta699]

It's good to see a bug video here on youtube for once, where the bug isn't being senselessly killed.

[eventhisidistaken]

@EdISTF ....because this *is* youtube.

[ZindreZR]

A wild Bear Grylls appears.

[MsCAPTINCUPCAKE]

thats a friggin MONSTER!

[orbisonte]

l'hai schiacciata troppo !!! ATTENTO o lasciala dove stava che sicuramente se la sarebbe cavata meglio 

[mmmmmarcus]

@chavez872 in this case you're wrong. This is a member of the predacious katydid family, and has sharp spines facing inward on the legs, to help secure live prey. Katydids are well-known for enjoying fresh meat. try touching your finger to a katydid's mouth gently. It will begin snacking on you, and will not jump away, even if you poke at it.

[muaythaijunky]

he went Noah on the bug.

[paulcadaver]

Is it from the aphocalipse?