Fauna Spotters logo

Key's Matchstick Grasshopper (Keyacris scurra)

Key's Matchstick Grasshopper is a small, flightless grasshopper found in scattered parts of south-eastern Australia. It is associated mainly with native grasslands and grassy woodlands, including patches with native grasses and food plants that may be affected by clearing or development.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

Australian Capital Territory, Nature Conservation Act 2014: Endangered.

Seasonal planning

Eggs hatch from December to March; males mature by May, and mating occurs in spring and early summer.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Hatching and breeding: Eggs hatch from December to March; males mature by May, and mating occurs in spring and early summer.

Identification: Appearance

This small, slender grasshopper is wingless and usually brown, though several colour forms occur. It has a slanted face, splayed hind femora and short, sword-shaped antennae.

This small, slender grasshopper is wingless and usually brown, though several colour forms occur. It has a slanted face, splayed hind femora and short, sword-shaped antennae.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

It was formerly distributed from Victoria north to Orange in NSW, but its range has contracted and become fragmented. Remaining records include sites in NSW and the ACT, and the Omeo district in Victoria.

It was formerly distributed from Victoria north to Orange in NSW, but its range has contracted and become fragmented. Remaining records include sites in NSW and the ACT, and the Omeo district in Victoria.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

It is most often found in native grasslands and grassy woodlands, particularly where kangaroo grass and suitable food plants are present. It has also been recorded in other vegetation types with native grass understories, including some forests, woodlands and heathlands.

It is most often found in native grasslands and grassy woodlands, particularly where kangaroo grass and suitable food plants are present. It has also been recorded in other vegetation types with native grass understories, including some forests, woodlands and heathlands.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Food plants include everlasting daisies (Chrysocephalum) and sheep’s burr (Acaena). The species also consumes a range of plants, including larger perennial plants when smaller ephemeral plants are unavailable.

Food plants include everlasting daisies (Chrysocephalum) and sheep’s burr (Acaena). The species also consumes a range of plants, including larger perennial plants when smaller ephemeral plants are unavailable.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

It has one generation each year. Eggs are laid in the soil in early summer and hatch from December to March; females overwinter as nymphs and mate in spring or early summer.

It has one generation each year. Eggs are laid in the soil in early summer and hatch from December to March; females overwinter as nymphs and mate in spring or early summer.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Grass tussocks provide shelter from predators and from summer heat and winter cold.

Grass tussocks provide shelter from predators and from summer heat and winter cold.

Threats: Threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats, as this flightless grasshopper has limited ability to move between suitable patches. Inappropriate burning, mowing, slashing, grazing and weed invasion can also damage habitat.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats, as this flightless grasshopper has limited ability to move between suitable patches. Inappropriate burning, mowing, slashing, grazing and weed invasion can also damage habitat.

Threats: Works risk

Clearing or construction that removes native grassland, grassy woodland or suitable food plants can reduce available habitat. Development and other disturbance can also fragment habitat, while inappropriate burning, mowing, slashing or grazing can degrade remaining patches.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Search slowly through suitable habitat during the warmer part of the day, when temperatures are above about 10°C, and watch for grasshoppers jumping near your feet as food plants are disturbed.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the on-ground surveys and data for referred actions under the EPBC Act, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations: Woodland

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

It is most often found in native grasslands and grassy woodlands, particularly where kangaroo grass and suitable food plants are present.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: ACT, NSW, VIC.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Heath

It has also been recorded in other vegetation types with native grass understories, including some forests, woodlands and heathlands.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: ACT, NSW, VIC.

Habitat use: general

Vegetation associations: Tussock grassland

It is most often found in native grasslands and grassy woodlands, particularly where kangaroo grass and suitable food plants are present.

Automatically indexed from existing profile text. Not a verified preference, mapped occurrence or habitat requirement. Check the original source and regional qualifiers before use.

Evidence: Unreviewed profile-derived candidate

Confidence: Not independently verified

Region: Scope as described in the quoted profile text; not independently verified. Profile states: ACT, NSW, VIC.

Habitat use: general

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Design the footprint, timing and access to avoid known or likely habitat, and brief crews on what to look for and who to call.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Fence or mark habitat to be retained and keep machinery, stockpiles and spoil out of it.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Reinstate disturbed ground with local species, return logs, rocks and litter, and control weeds and erosion until the site is stable.

Sources