South Africa: Rediscovered after 45 years – a nearly forgotten grasshopper species is still alive

For more than four decades, Prostalia granulata, also known as the granulate bladder grasshopper, was considered lost. The rare grasshopper species was last scientifically documented in 1980. Since then, no verified records had been available—raising serious doubts about its continued existence.

Then, in early December 2025, came the surprise: the species was rediscovered in a protected area along the southern coast of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The finding was confirmed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the regional conservation authority.

A chance discovery of a critically threatened species

Prostalia granulata was rediscovered on 1 December 2025 during a routine survey in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. Adrian Armstrong, a wildlife ecologist specialising in invertebrates and herpetofauna at KZN Wildlife, photographed the insect near the Beacon Hill station. These images provided the first unequivocal proof in 45 years that the species is still extant.

Previously, P. granulata was known from only three historical localities—in Mpumalanga, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and the Eastern Cape. These sites are widely separated. While the estimated extent of occurrence covers around 62,000 square kilometres, the species is thought to occupy no more than 20 square kilometres in reality. The subpopulations are considered very small, isolated, and highly fragmented; exchange between them is unlikely.

The new record from the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal significantly expands the known range and provides important new insights into the ecology of this extremely rare grasshopper.

Despite its importance, the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is under increasing pressure. Current challenges include illegal grazing by livestock, unauthorised burning, and chronic underfunding of the protected area. An additional potential threat to Prostalia granulata is the drift of pesticides from neighbouring macadamia plantations, which can be particularly harmful to sensitive insect species.

The IUCN currently lists P. granulata as Endangered. The primary threat is the ongoing loss of suitable habitat—mainly due to agriculture, urbanisation, and the spread of invasive alien plant species.

Particularly remarkable: P. granulata is not only a rare species, but also the only known species of its genus. Its survival therefore determines the fate of the entire evolutionary lineage.

Why this rediscovery matters

The rediscovery highlights the crucial role that even relatively small protected areas can play in conserving biodiversity. Internationally, the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is best known for protecting the highly threatened Pondoland-Ugu Sandstone Coastal Sourveld—a species-rich grassland with many endemic plant species.

That an insect species not recorded for decades has now been rediscovered here underscores how valuable such habitats are for poorly studied animal groups as well. In conservation, insects often remain in the shadow of larger, “charismatic” species, despite being indispensable to functioning ecosystems.

A grasshopper with remarkable traits

P. granulata belongs to the family Pneumoridae, a small group of southern African short-horned grasshoppers. Little is known about its biology. The species has been collected in savanna-like open landscapes; its host plants remain unknown.

Like many members of the family, it is presumably crepuscular or nocturnal. Particularly striking is the strongly inflated abdomen of the males, which serves as a resonance chamber to amplify their calls. This allows their calls to be heard over several hundred metres—an important factor in mate attraction.

The species is also named for the numerous tiny, raised granules (granula) covering its body, giving it a distinctive appearance.

Hope for overlooked species

According to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the rediscovery of Prostalia granulata—together with a newly compiled overview of endemic and threatened invertebrate species—demonstrates that the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is not only vital for the protection of rare plants, but also for the conservation of largely overlooked insect groups.

The finding shows that targeted conservation, continuous research, and well-managed protected areas can still bring hidden species to light—even after decades.

As with the Monte Gordo grasshopper from the Cape Verde island of São Nicolau and the North American grasshopper Appalachia hebardi rediscovered in 2025, this case also shows that even long-lost grasshopper species can persist in suitable refuges.

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Source

• Ndou, C. (2026, January 12). Endangered grasshopper rediscovered in KZN after 45 years. The Witness.
  https://witness.co.za/news/2026/01/12/rare-grass-hopper/