Decticus loudoni

The type locality of D. loudoni is Spongano, Apulia, Italy. The male holotype specimen is now held in the Museum für Naturkunde (MfN).^[2] D. loudoni is now understood to inhabit the southeastern portion of the Italian peninsula: throughout Salento (the "heel" of Italy) and further north in Foggia, both in Apulia. It is also found in the adjacent eastern fringe of Campania.^[3] They are particularly abundant in Alta Murgia National Park.^[4]

Apulian wart biters are inhabitants of hot, dry, semi-natural habitats: shrubland, grassland, pastures, and meadows stony and hilly.^[1][3][4] They are found in habitats between 70 and 250 m in elevation,^[1] while the related Decticus aprutianus is found nearby but in higher terrain, usually no lower than 1200 m.^[5] The vegetation in their typical habitat is lightly grazed grass and dispersed occasional shrubs. The wart-biters are typical of Murge plateau orthopterans.^[3]

Decticus loudoni is considered a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list. They are threatened by human agricultural activity.^[1]