Pamphagus sardeus
Species of grasshopper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pamphagus sardeus is a large species of Pamphagidae and one of the most massive Italian Orthoptera.
| Pamphagus sardeus | |
|---|---|
| |
| P. sardeus, female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Orthoptera |
| Suborder: | Caelifera |
| Family: | Pamphagidae |
| Subfamily: | Pamphaginae |
| Tribe: | Pamphagini |
| Genus: | Pamphagus |
| Species: | P. sardeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pamphagus sardeus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1840) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Distribution and habitat
Description
The adult males grow up to 45.9–61 millimetres (1.81–2.40 in) long, while females reach 55–70 millimetres (2.2–2.8 in). The overall shape is typical of Pamphagidae and very similar to Pamphagus marmoratus, to the point that for a long time this species was reported as P. marmoratus before the works by Harz (1969[2] and 1975[3]) definitively separated it on the basis of the longer cerci, a different profile of the ultimate tergite and the shape of male genitalia. [4]
Biology
Pamphagus sardeus, like the other Pamphagidae, is herbivore. Adults, especially females, rarely jump, look quite torpid and clumsy and can be easily captured with the hands. Although relatively widespread, it's not easy to meet and it never occurs in large numbers.
A lab audio recording attributed to P. sardeus is available on the Orthoptera Species File website.
Gallery
A female specimen of Sardinia's endemic Pamphagus sardeus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1840)
