Nightingale grasshopper
| Nightingale grasshopper | ||||||||||||
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Nightingale grasshopper ( Chorthippus biguttulus ) ♀ |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Chorthippus biguttulus | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The nightingale grasshopper ( Chorthippus biguttulus ) is a short-antennae insect from the grasshopper family (Acrididae) and belongs to the grasshopper subfamily (Gomphocerinae). It is widespread in Germany.
description
Both sexes are essentially grayish-brownish on the upper side, but slightly variable in color. But there should also be reddish and greenish color variants. The underside is lighter and the sides of the abdomen usually appear vertically black and light striped. The tip of the abdomen is often colored red on top in both males and females. The females are about 20-25 mm long, significantly larger than the males. In the field, the species can only be clearly distinguished from several externally very similar species of the genus Chorthippus (especially C. brunneus , C. mollis ), with which it shares the same habitats, only by the male vocalizations. The singing consists of stanzas of two to three seconds duration, increasing in volume. The noise consists of initially slower, later increasing faster ticking sounds and a whirring sound that gets louder and predominates at the end. The singing can be heard and clearly recognized by people about 10 m away. Chorthippus biguttulus is very difficult to distinguish from the very similar species Chorthippus eisentrauti, both optically and acoustically.
Stridulating nightingale grasshopper
Males that are collected from habitats right next to a motorway and recorded in the laboratory under quiet conditions produce signals with a higher amplitude maximum in the low-frequency range compared to conspecifics that come from quiet habitats.
habitat
The species prefers dry, warm locations with sandy subsoil and open ground, also roadsides, clearcuts and fallow land. Somewhat more humid locations are also accepted.
Way of life
The species feeds on grasses. The females of the nightingale grasshopper lay the eggs in the ground.
distribution
The species is common throughout Germany. It is widespread in Euro-Asia and is not endangered.
literature
- Dagmar von Helversen: Singing of the male and sound scheme of the female in the field locust Chorthippus biguttulus (Orthoptera, Acrididae). In: J. Comp. Physiol. 81, 1972, pp. 381-422.
- Peter Detzel: Locusts in Baden-Württemberg . Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-8001-3507-8 .
- H. Schlumprecht, G. Waeber (arr.): Locusts in Bavaria . Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3883-2 .
Web links
- Pictures of grasshoppers in Hamburg
- More pictures and information
- Pictures and sound samples of grasshoppers in Holland
- Chorthippus biguttulus at Orthoptera.ch
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ulrike Lampe: Influences of environmental noise on the acoustic communication of the nightingale grasshopper. ( Memento from September 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Bielefeld University, 2010.