Anacridium aegyptium

• Anacridium aegyptium var. rubrispinum Bei-Bienko, 1948 - Anacridium rubrispinum Bei-Bienko, 1948

This quite common species is present in most of Europe, in the 'Afro-tropical ecozone', in eastern Palearctic ecozone, in the Near East and in North Africa.[2]

These grasshoppers inhabit trees and shrubs, scrub land, maquis and orchards in warm and bright environments, at an elevation from sea-level to 1,500m.[3][4]

Close-up of Anacridium aegyptium

Anacridium aegyptium is one of the largest European grasshoppers. The adult males grow up to 30–56 millimetres (1.2–2.2 in) long, while females reach 46–70 millimetres (1.8–2.8 in) of length. Their body is usually gray, brown or olive coloured, the antennae are relatively short and robust. Tibiae of the hind legs are blue, while femora are orange. The hind femora have characteristic dark marks. It is easily identifiable also by the characteristic eyes with vertical black and white stripes. The pronotum shows a dorsal orange stripe and several white small spots. The wings are clear with dark marks.[5][4]

This species is folivore, essentially feeding on leaves of various plants.[4] It is a solitary species, not harmful to crops. Adults can mainly be encountered in August and September, but they are active throughout the year.[3][4] After mating these grasshoppers overwinter as adults. Spawning occurs in spring just under the soil surface[4] and the nymphs appear in April.[3] These grasshoppers undergo several molts.[4] The nymphs have the appearance of the adults, their color varies from yellow to bright green and ocher and the wings are absent or small, as they are gradually developed after each molting.[4]

• 
  Mating pair
• 
  Nymph showing typical juvenile wings
• 
  Adult eyes close-up
• 
  Adult detail of pronotum

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• Linneus, 1764 : Museum S.R.M. Ludovicae Ulricae reginae Svecorum, Gothorum, Vandalorum,… In quo animalia raroria, exotica, imprimis Insecta et Conchilia describuntur et determinantur Prodromi instar editum.

• Orthoptera.speciesfile.org
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