Psophus stridulus
Rotflüglige Schnarr cricket ( Psophus stridulus )
The Rotflüglige Schnarr cricket ( Psophus stridulus ) is a species of the family of grasshoppers ( Acrididae ) in the order of the Grasshopper ( caelifera ).
Features
The males are 23 to 25, females 26 to 40 millimeters long. The females are yellow-brown or gray and have a slightly plumper physique, than the almost black colored males. These are fully winged, the females, however, have only shortened wings. The front wings are the same color as the body, the hind wings are bright red colored, except for their tips, which are black. One can recognize this well during the flight, which leaves some confusion with the Rotflügeligen grasshopper ( Oedipoda germanica ) holds. However, the two species are distinguishable, that when the snare Schrecke the red of the hind wing is more extended and the fore wings the wide bright transverse bars are missing. Also has the Rotflüglige Schnarr grasshopper on top of the pronotum a high, continuous ridge keel on both sides has a small indentation.
Occurrence
The Rotflüglige Schnarr cricket occurs in central and southern Europe. She lives mainly in dry, rocky areas, such as on temperaturbegünstigtem dry grasslands. One finds the animals to heights of about 2,000 meters. The species is already extinct in some German states such as Hesse, Lower Saxony and Schleswig -Holstein, they are found only in Brandenburg, Bavaria and Baden- Württemberg where their populations are rapidly declining. Older larvae and mature individuals of the species can be found from July to October.
Way of life
The animals produce with the hind wings a rattling buzz, which probably serves together with the surprisingly recognizable red hind wings to deter predators. In the males, it is also part of the complex Balzrituals. At low temperatures and with repeated startle the sound is not generated. Females buzz even when sitting. After mating, the female lays the eggs in packets in the ground, then slip in the following early summer the larvae.
Threats and conservation
- Red List FRG: 2 ( endangered ).