''Ephippiger ephippiger'', the saddle-backed bush cricket, is a species belonging to the family
Tettigoniidae
Insects in the family (biology), family Tettigoniidae are commonly called katydids (especially in North America) or bush crickets. They have previously been known as "long-horned grasshoppers". More than 8,000 species are known. Part of the subo ...
subfamily
Bradyporinae
The Bradyporinae are a subfamily in the family Tettigoniidae (bush crickets or katydids), based on the type genus '' Bradyporus''. First described as a family, "Bradyporidae" , the first use as Bradyporinae was by Brunner von Wattenwyl in 1878.
...
. It is found primarily in central Europe, with the closely related species ''
Ephippiger diurnus'' in the west.
The habitat consists of relatively dry and sparse areas with scarce vegetation, such as heather with a few trees, where it can be found both close to the soil and higher up in the vegetation. The saddle-backed bush cricket mainly eats insects and other small animals, but also plant parts. For arable farmers, it is a useful animal because it lives in plants but mainly hunts for plant-dwelling (pest) insects. It is active during the months of August to October; the males are mainly heard between eleven o'clock in the morning and nine o'clock in the evening. The sound is clearly audible and consists of a sharp, grating squeak that sounds like ''tieh'', but is repeated in long runs with a frequency of about one or two times per second.
Ephippiger ephippiger male (8333271438).jpg, Male
Ephippiger ephippiger female (8333270980).jpg, Female
Ephippiger ephippiger (10251226163).jpg, Head
File:Ephippiger Carotte 3.jpg, Feeding
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q598996
Orthoptera of Europe
Tettigoniidae
Insects described in 1784