<![CDATA[Sexava (coconut long-horned grasshopper) is a genus of the suborder Ensifera that has the ability to attack coconut plants massively and rapidly. Sexava is also known as a long-horned grasshopper because it has antennae longer than its body and a sword-like ovipositor in the female insect. Three Sexava species, namely Sexava coriacea, S. nubila, and S. karnyii, have distributions restricted to eastern Indonesia. All three long-horned grasshopper have almost identical visual appearances when encountered in plantations. Morphological observation of these insects in the field is difficult due to similarities in body size and color. This study aimed to characterize the morphological differences among S. coriacea, S. nubila and S. karnyii under laboratory conditions. Specimens of S. coriacea were obtained from North Maluku, S. nubila from West Papua, and S. karnyii from Central Sulawesi. Collection and identification of Sexava were carried out using direct observation methods based on the Sexava identification key by The Key of Sexavae and comparison specimens. The results show that the specific differences among Sexava coriacea, S. nubila, and S. karnyii can be seen from body morphology, especially the stridulatory on wings, cerci and the subgenital plate. Female genitalia among S. coriacea, S. nubila, and S. karnyii do not show significant differences and therefore are not used as distinguishing parameters.]]>
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