''Antaxius pedestris'' is a species of "bush crickets" belonging to the family Tettigoniidae. It was originally described by Johan Christian Fabricius under the scientific name of ''Locusta pedestris''.

Subspecies

Subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

include: * ''Antaxius pedestris apuanus'' Nadig, 1958 - occurs in Italy, Austria and Switzerland * ''Antaxius pedestris pedestris'' (Fabricius, 1787) - occurs in France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland

Distribution

This species is present in Pyrenees of Spain and in the western and southern Alps of Austria, France, Italy and

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

.Fauna Europaea
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Habitat

It prefers warm habitats in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas with high vegetation and low bushes, at an elevation up to above sea level.
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Description

''Antaxius pedestris'' can reach a length of about . Its ovipositor is slightly shorter than the body, it reaches about . The basic color of the body is dark brown, gray brown or dark gray with light whitish or yellow to light gray drawings. Pronotum is tinged with white on the lateral margins. Abdomen is long, thick and strong. Wings are very short in the females, while in males they protrude 3–4 mm out from under the pronotum. Cerci of the males are unusual. They are whitish, flattened and internally toothed. All pairs of the powerful legs bear small spines on the lower part.

Biology

Adults can be found from July to October. They feed on plants and insects, mainly small locusts. Eggs are laid in the ground.

References

* Fabricius (1787), Mantissa insectorum exhibens species nuper in Etruria collectas a Ptro Rossio, Pisis, Polloni

External links

Orthoptera Species

Orthoptera
{{Taxonbar, from=Q756718 Tettigoniidae Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius Insects described in 1787 Orthoptera of Europe