Saddle backed Bush Cricket

Appearance

Relatively small species - 25-30 mm, without wings. Stridulation is composed of two sounds - a short one and a longer one. Females respond by stridulation too.

Naming

Common names: Saddle-backed Bushcricket; L'Ephippigère des vignes; Steppen-Sattelschrecke

Synonyms:
Gryllus ephippiger Fiebig, 1784 ;
Ephippiger vitium Serville, 1831 ;
Ephippiger diurnus Dufour, 1841.

Subspecies:
Ephippiger ephippiger balkanicus Andreeva 1985
Ephippiger ephippiger ephippiger Fiebig, 1784
Ephippiger ephippiger harzi Adamovic, 1973
Ephippiger ephippiger tamaninii Galvagni, 1956
Ephippiger ephippiger usi Adamovic, 1973
Ephippiger ephippiger varnensis Andreeva, 1985

Distribution

Found in most parts of Europe.

Status

In Germany Ephippiger ephippiger is critically endangered at the very few still existing sites (today almost exclusively in the middle Rhine valley area and its warmest tributary river valleys) by habitat changes. In Southern Europe (e.g. Southern France or Northern Greece) it is still more common.

Habitat

Ephippiger ephippiger occurs in vertically well structured, xerothermous habitats such as fallow vineyards, dry, shrub-rich, steppe-like grasslands, bright white oak stocks (Quercus pubescens) etc. The insects are oriented vertically and are often found on bushes.

Reproduction

The adults are found from July to October. The eggs overwinter in moss and earth, according to literature several times.

Food

Plants (e.g. vine) and small animals (insects).