David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
_________________________________________________Grasshoppers
and Crickets 39 – Saddle-backed Bush Crickets
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger ephippiger (m)
SADDLE-BACKED BUSH CRICKET Ephippiger
ephippiger (m)
·
There are several useful anatomical differences that
may be examined when trying to separate the Saddle-backed Bush Cricket Ephippiger
ephippiger from the Rough-backed Bush Cricket Uromenas
rugosicollis in France, although there are
other similar species that may be seen elsewhere in Europe. Neither of these
heavily built insects is found in the UK, although this may change as the
climate continues to warm up. The compound eyes of E. ephippiger
are usually approximately the same colour as the head, whereas they are white
in U. rugosicollis. This feature is easy to
see. Both insects have green and (less commonly) brown colour-forms. There is a
distinctive black marking on the rear of the head of E. ephippiger.
This is usually hidden beneath the pronotum, but it will become visible when the
head is tilted forwards as the insect is feeding. The pronotum is more
obviously angled upwards in E. ephippiger, and
the ovipositor is longer and narrower than the more upwardly curved and robust ovipositor
of female U. rugosicollis. There is also a
distinct difference between the structures of the male genitalia, best observed
from above (see 4th and 5th photographs above for E. ephippiger). This is a useful and well-illustrated reference
for those attempting to compare these species: https://cdnfiles1.biolovision.net/www.nature79.org/userfiles/AIDEIDENTIF/comparaisonephippigere.jpg.
The Saddle-backed Bush Cricket is often to be found on plants equipped with
plenty of spines, offering a deterrent to predators. Their camouflage is
effective, and they can be difficult to see, hiding in plain sight despite
their relatively large size.
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