Omocestus rufipes
Omocestus rufipes | |
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Omocestus rufipes. Male | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Orthoptera |
Family: | Acrididae |
Genus: | Omocestus |
Species: | O. rufipes |
Binomial name | |
Omocestus rufipes (Zetterstedt, 1821) | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Omocestus rufipes, the 'Woodland Grasshopper', is a species of 'short-horned grasshoppers' belonging to the family Acrididae subfamily Gomphocerinae.
Etymology
The Latin species name rufipes means red-foothed, from rufus (red) + pes (foot), with reference to the color of the legs.
Distribution
This species is present in most of Europe, in eastern Palearctic ecozone, in North Africa and in the Near East.[2]
Habitat
These grasshoppers inhabit meadows, grasslands and sunny clearings in woodlands. [3]
Description
The adult males of Omocestus rufipes grow up to 11–17 millimetres (0.43–0.67 in) long, while the females reach 13–22 millimetres (0.51–0.87 in)of length. [3]
The basic coloration of the body varies from light brown to blackish. The dorsal side is usually beige in males, brown or green in females. Pronotum has a white edge. The hindwings are dark in their rear half in the male as in the female. In mature adults the underside of the apex of the abdomen is reddish or orange.
The apex of the maxillary palps is almost white. In males the tip of the abomen is red. The males always shows red rear tibias and often red rear femurs.[3][4]
Biology
They can be encountered from early June through late October.[4] They mainly feed on grasses and various herbaceous plants.
Eggs are laid in clusters just below the surface of the soil or in the roots of plants. Nymphs appear in April or May.
Gallery
- Dorsal view
- Ventral view
- Male
- Female
Sound of Omocestus rufipes
Field recording in the Netherlands 29s | |
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References
- Marshall, J.A. & Haes, E.C.M. (1988): Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester. 254 S.
- Nunner, A. (1998): Omocestus rufipes – Buntbäuchiger Grashüpfer. In: Detzel, P.: Die Heuschrecken Baden-Württembergs. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 420–427 S