Wooden frame with Rainbow Milkweed Locust (Phymateus saxosus)

Description

Phymateus saxosus can congregate in large numbers on trees and feed on highly poisonous milkweed plants rendering them toxic to prey. Their highly coloured wings are a warning to any intended predators – they rustle their wings when disturbed and secrete a toxic fluid from their thoracic joint. Its toxicity comes from eating milkweed. The locust lives mainly in Madagascar and local people call the species tumateus.