Western thorn insect

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Western thorn insect
Tetrix ceperoi.jpg

Western thorn insect ( Tetrix ceperoi )

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Grasshoppers (Orthoptera)
Subordination : Short-antennae terrors (Caelifera)
Family : Thorn terrors (Tetrigidae)
Genre : Tetrix
Type : Western thorn insect
Scientific name
Tetrix ceperoi
( I. Bolivar , 1887)

The western thorn insect ( Tetrix ceperoi ) belongs to the family of thorn insects (Tetrigidae) in the order of the short-antennae terrors (Caelifera).

features

The western thorn insect is slightly smaller than the saber thorn insect ( Tetrix subulata ). Without the "thorn" it reaches a body length of 7 to 10 millimeters. As with all thorn horrors, the color is extremely variable. A green piebald morph is the most common in females, while black and dark brown morphs are more common in males. The coloring is influenced in the course of development by the coloring of the background. The pronotum has a flat and straight keel when viewed from the side. The process of the pronotum ("thorn") is longer than the abdomen and protrudes beyond the fully developed hind wings. The forewings are stunted, as in all thorns. The compound eyes are seen from above closer together than in the saber thorn cricket. The best feature to identify is the upper keel of the hind legs, which bends outward just before the knees. At this kink there are some small teeth that are often colored white.

Occurrence

This species can be found from the western Mediterranean to Poland and the Czech Republic. The species prefers open, moist habitats. In Germany it can be found especially in moist sand pits, gravel pits, clay pits, on coal heaps, in dune valleys and similar heat-favored habitats. The adults can be found from August and after wintering (around March) to June and July of the following year.

Way of life

Like many species of thorns, the animals feed primarily on algae, moss and microorganisms, but also on grasses. During courtship, the animals use visual signals, in particular a short “handstand”. In addition, like all Tetrix species , the western thorn insect generates vibrations that are transmitted via the substrate. The mating season lasts from April to June. During this time, eggs are laid approximately every 3–4 days. From June you can find nymphs that develop into imago by autumn and overwinter under water.

literature

  • Heiko Bellmann : The Cosmos Locust Guide - Determine the Species of Central Europe with Confidence . Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co KG, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-440-10447-8 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Axel Hochkirch, Jana Deppermann and Julia Gröning: Phenotypic plasticity in insects: the effects of substrate color on the coloration of two ground-hopper species. Evolution & Development 10, Issue 3, 2008: pp. 350-359 Abstract, online
  2. ↑ Kleukers, RMJC, EJ van Nieukerken, B. Odé, LPM Willemse & WKRE van Wingerden, 1997: De sprinkhanen en krekels van Nederland (Orthoptera). Nederlandse Fauna 1. National Natuurhistorisch Museum, KNNV-Uitgeverij & EIS-Nederland. 416 p.
  3. ↑ Gröning, J., Kochmann, J. & Hochkirch, A .: Dornschrecken (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) on the East Frisian Islands - distribution, coexistence and ecology. Pp. 47-64
  4. ↑ Axel Hochkirch, Jana Deppermann and Julia Gröning: Visual Communication Behavior as a Mechanism Behind Reproductive Interference in Three Pygmy Grasshoppers (Genus Tetrix, Tetrigidae, Orthoptera). Journal of Insect Behavior 19, Number 5, 2006: pp. 559-571 Abstract, Online
  5. ↑ Petr Kočárek: Substrate-borne Vibrations as a Component of Intraspecific Communication in the Groundhopper Tetrix ceperoi. Journal of Insect Behavior 23, Number 5, 2010: pp. 348-363 Abstract, Online
  6. ↑ Gröning, J., Kochmann, J. & Hochkirch, A .: Dornschrecken (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) on the East Frisian Islands - distribution, coexistence and ecology. Pp. 47-64

Web links

Commons : Tetrix ceperoi  - collection of images, videos and audio files