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Callimenus (=Bradyporus) macrogaster macrogaster (Western Chunky Bush-Cricket / Batı Tombul Çekirgesi)

Callimenus (=Bradyporus) macrogaster macrogaster (Western Chunky Bush-Cricket / Batı Tombul Çekirgesi)


Callimenus (=Bradyporus) macrogaster macrogaster (Western Chunky Bush-Cricket / Batı Tombul Çekirgesi) [Male/Erkek] from Yamanlar Mt., İzmir - 19.05.2010.

Orthoptera order has a significant ecological importance in the economy of terrestrial habitats because they can consume a considerable percent of the annual primary production of grasslands, being considered primary herbivores in many of them. Also, they contribute to the diet of many animals such as reptiles, birds, mammals and other arthropods. Another important aspect is that Orthoptera species are habitat specific and the study of Orthoptera assemblages are used as indicators for conservation purposes.

Callimenus (=Bradyporus) macrogaster, is one of the largest and also chunky:) Turkish (and also Greek) apterous bush-cricket (Tettigoniidae: Bradyporinae) with an average lenght of 5-5.5 cm. Its distribution is over the W, C and S Anatolia. However it is also reported from the adjacent island Rhodos (Greece). The Bornova population of the species is more abundant according to other locations. Males are smaller than the females. The ovipositor is very long (15-18 mm) in females. The adults are active from May to end of Jully.

References: 1. Türkiye Entomolojisi - Prof Dr. Niyazi LODOS. 2. Ünal, M. (2011). Taxonomic review of the subfamily Bradyporinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Bradyporini; Ephippigerini) of Turkey, with description of new species and the relationship of the taxa. Zootaxa, 2899: 1-42.