Appearance
This is a medium-sized grasshopper, with females growing to a length of about 4.5 cm, while males are slightly smaller. The general colour is greyish-brown. The head and prothorax have a central dark band edged with paler stripes. The eye has a longitudinal dark streak, a characteristic shared by "Anacridium aegyptium", "Heteracris annulosa" and "Heteracris adspersa". The femurs of the hind legs have greenish, blue and yellow striations, and the hind tibia have reddish or bluish iridescence, and black and white spines.
Distribution
"Eyprepocnemis plorans" is native to much of Africa, parts of the Middle East such as Iran, and southern Europe, where it is present in southern Greece, southern Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and southern Spain. It seems to be expanding its range northwards in Italy, possibly as a result of putative climate change. It usually occurs in wetlands, reed beds, freshwater and salt marshes, riverside vegetation, coastal vegetation and man-made habitats. It appreciates vertical-growing stems such as reeds, and habitats with tall forbs mixed with lower-growing plants.
Status
This is a common species of grasshopper in suitable habitats. The population fluctuates seasonally, and the main threats are from urbanisation and developments associated with tourism. It has a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as being of least concern.References:
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