''Platycleis albopunctata'' is a species of European
bush cricket in the tribe
Platycleidini
The Tettigoniinae are a subfamily of bush crickets or katydids, which contains hundreds of species in about twelve tribes.
Distribution
The greatest diversity is in the Palaearctic region and many of the familiar European species of bush cricke ...
.
This species occurs throughout Europe and in North Africa; several subspecies have been described (below). The nominate subspecies occurs in the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
where it is often called the grey bush cricket.
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''
Orthoptera Species File (retrieved 8 February 2021)
/ref> 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
Gallery
Platycleis albopunctata f 11324.jpg, female
Platycleis albopunctata male.jpg, male
References
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q1316351
Orthoptera of Europe
Tettigoniidae
Insects described in 1778