Platycleis albopunctata

Platycleis albopunctata[1] is a species of European bush cricket in the tribe Platycleidini.

Platycleis albopunctata
Platycleis albopunctata – female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Subfamily: Tettigoniinae
Tribe: Platycleidini
Genus: Platycleis
Species:
P. albopunctata
Binomial name
Platycleis albopunctata
Goeze, 1778
Synonyms
  • Platycleis denticulata Panzer, 1796
  • Platycleis occidentalis Zeuner, 1941.

This species occurs throughout Europe and in North Africa; several subspecies have been described (below). The nominate subspecies occurs in the British Isles where it is often called the grey bush cricket.[2]

Description and Biology

In mainland Europe, grey bush crickets can be confused with the very similar to P. grisea. Their habitat includes areas with low and dry vegetation, such as sunny slopes and sandy open fields. The primary colour of the body is greyish to brownish, often with reddish brown elements on the upper side of the head and neck. The wings are long.

P. albopunctata is omnivorous, eating both plants and smaller insects. The males can be fairly aggressive and attract mates with a song consisting of a rather weak "zirr".

Subspecies

The Orthoptera Species File[3] lists:

  • P. albopunctata albopunctata (Goeze, 1778)
  • P. albopunctata collina Navás, 1924 - Iberian peninsula
  • P. albopunctata cretica Willemse & Kruseman, 1976
  • P. albopunctata hispanica Zeuner, 1941 - France, Iberian peninsula
  • P. albopunctata maura Zeuner, 1941 - N Africa
  • P. albopunctata monticola (Chopard, 1924) - Corsica
  • P. albopunctata sculpta Zeuner, 1941 - Iberian peninsula
  • P. albopunctata transiens Zeuner, 1941
  • P. albopunctata yerseyana Zeuner, 1940 - France
  • female
    female
  • male
    male

References
  1. Goeze (1778) Entomologische Beyträge zu des Ritter Linné zwölften Ausgabe des Natursystems 2: 89.
  2. Ragge DR (1965). Grasshoppers, Crickets & Cockroaches of the British Isles. F Warne & Co, London. p. 299.
  3. Orthoptera Species File (retrieved 8 February 2021)
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