Large Painted Locust Schistocerca melanocera

Endemic to the Galápagos Islands (except Española Island), this giant grasshopper reaches up to 8 cm long—making it one of the largest insects you'll find there. It's a dietary cornerstone for two of the Galápagos' most iconic predators: the Galápagos hawk and lava lizards. These hunters depend so heavily on this painted locust that the insect's population directly impacts their survival. Watching these locusts is essentially watching a thread being pulled in one of nature's most delicate island food webs.