Sunday, March 2, 2014

NOW THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED...KOCH'S SANDGROPER

For many years I have known that we Western Australians are known as 'sandgropers' but I had never known from where that nickname had been derived.  During my research I have found the answer and I am sure it will take me some time to come to terms with being named after this little creature.

Class: Insecta;   Order: Orthoptera:  Family;   Cylindrachetidae;    Genus: Cylindraustralia;
Species:  kochii

The Sandgroper is an unusual insect, related to grasshoppers, that spends most of its life underground.  Their bodies are long and cylindrical and well adapted to burrowing with short powerful flattened front legs for digging.  They are wingless and have small simple eyes.  The rear two pairs of legs are near the middle of the body and are small and can be tucked in close to the sides of the body.  They burrow by parting the soil in front of them with their strong front legs and compressing it against the sides to form a tunnel.  Nymphs and adults produce an unpleasant smelling secretion from a pair of glands on the abdomen.  Adult sandgropers are brown with lighter bands on the abdomen.  They grow to a length of about 50mm.




Nymphs are a paler, creamy colour.


Sandgropers prefer sandy soil where they can burrow easily.  Adult and nymphs create galleries in moist soil by digging through and compressing the soil with their strong front legs.  They burrow to depths of up to 1.9m.  After rain they often burrow close to the surface forming raised trails.

Showing trails in sandy soil.


Sandgropers are omnivorous, and feed on roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, fungi and invertebrates.  They are reputed to be an agricultural pest, responsible for crop and pasture loss in some parts, such as the wheatbelt of Western Australia.

The sandgroper lays eggs in an underground chamber about 40cm to 190cm deep in moist soil.  The eggs are suspended singly from the roof of the chamber.  They are laid from autumn to spring and hatch in summer.  The eggs hatch into nymphs which resemle small adults, and go through several stages (instars) before reaching maturity.  The complete life cycle from egg to adult may take several years.

Koch's Sandgroper is found only in Western Australia.

Just for fun I thought I'd check the nicknames for those from other Australian States as U actually only know those for Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia.  This is a list of all of them:

Queensland = "Banana Benders" (or more recently "Cane toads")
New South Wales = "Cockroaches" (I think I prefer "Sandgroper" to this nickname)
Victoria = "Gum Suckers" (more recently "Mexicans" as they live south of the border.)
South Australia = "Crow Eaters" (apparently because of the symbol on their state flag. It is actually a Piping Shrike but could perhaps be taken for a crow?)


ACT = "Roundabout-Abouters" (do they have lots of roundabouts in Canberra?)
Northern Territory = "Territorians" (also known as "Crocbait")
Tasmania = "Apple Eaters" or "Taswegians".


12 comments:

  1. I didn't know the New South Welshians were cockroaches - though Sydney at least has a LOT. And yes, I would prefer to be a sandgroper.

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    1. I would much prefer it if a sandgroper were a bird though.

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  2. Great post Mimsie, so interesting. Sorry about your comments not appearing. I have it set to comment moderation and usually get to read them quite quickly but I have been out for an unusual amount of time today and have just read it. Have a great weekend :)

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    1. Oh OK Denise so now you may have too many comments from me. I just didn't realise how the system worked. I won't be so impatient in future.
      I am sure in the UK and US different counties/states have their own terms for the inhabitants of those place.

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  3. This is news to me Mimsie. I always thought a Sand groper was a bird of some kind. I'm a little disconcerted to find it is a burrowing insect. I'd imagined a small bird with long legs and a curved beak similar to a kiwi.

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    1. Perhaps you were thinking of a sandpiper which is a delightful little bird and I'd be much happier if that was to be the creature we West Aussies were named for. This insect reminds me too much of an earwig.

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  4. YUCK! They remind me of an insect we have here, Mimsie. I always "squish" them when I find them!!!...:)JP

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    1. They remind me of what we in Oz call earwigs that also are readily squished when seen. I still prefer being called a 'sandgroper' to a 'cockroach' though. : )

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  5. Hi Mimsie, there you go you learn a new thing everyday, I didn't know we get our name from those little diggers. I came across your blog from Rose's, I saw your comment on Perth weather. I lived in Coolbellup till a year ago and now enjoy country life in Wongan Hills.

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    1. Hi Linley and thank you for paying my blog a visit. Seems we may have been neigbours for some time as we live in Hamilton Hill, right next door to Coolbellup, a suburb we know very well.
      My comment on Perth weather still stands as no respite in sight although 'they' are promising temps in the high 20s later this week which I will believe when it happens.
      It was a revelation to me as well to find out what we West Aussies are named after. Not a pleasant surprise but it could I guess be worse.
      I would imagine it is somewhat warmer in Wongan Hills than in Perth but perhaps a much drier heat. We have thought of moving into the country but at our age we need all the medical help possible so life in suburbia it is for we two.
      I will pay a visit to your blog shortly and Rose has recommended I do so to check on your brilliant photos.

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  6. Your research is commendable Mimsie - hoping like mad you'll get some rain soon.
    PS You'll enjoy joining Linley's blog being from your way and she displays some brilliant photos from your part of the world. She's also a lovely lady.

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    1. I do so enjoy 'finding out' about things of which I am ignorant and even try to remember some of the information I find.
      Still no rain in the forecast but there was actually a cloud in the sky just now so hopefully a promise of things to come ... one day.
      I will visit Linley's blog on your recommendation. Strange to think she and i were almost neighbours before her move in the country.

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