Pygmy pincer grasshopper

Description

Calliptamus siciliae, commonly known as the pygmy pincer grasshopper, is a species of short-horned grasshoppers belonging to the family Acrididae subfamily Calliptaminae. This endemism is only present in the south-east of France, in Switzerland, in mainland Italy and in Sicily (hence the Latin name siciliae). This species inhabits dry meadows, shrubland and arid environments, but also mountainous areas along stony paths, at an elevation of 220–1,420 metres (720–4,660 ft) above sea level. It prefers dense vegetation. Calliptamus siciliae can reach a body length of 12–17 millimetres (0.47–0.67 in) in males, of 19–27 millimetres (0.75–1.06 in) in females. The basic coloration of the body is rather variable. It ranges from dark gray, greyish brown to reddish brown. The wings are narrow and dark spotted. The hind wings are transparent milky. The tibiae of the hindlegs and the underside of the femurs are reddish. It can be distinguished from similar species by the front wings (tegmina) shorter than the abdomen. Adults can mainly be encountered from July through October. Calliptamus is a genus of short-horned grasshoppers in the family Acrididae. There are about 17 described species in Calliptamus, found in the Palearctic and Africa.