Southern saw-tailed bush-cricket

Description

Barbitistes obtusus, common name Southern Saw-tailed Bush-cricket or Alpine Saw Bush-cricket, is a species of katydids crickets in family Phaneropteridae subfamily Phaneropterinae. This species replaces Barbitistes serricauda in the Southern Alps. It is present in France, Italy and Switzerland, from the Basses-Alpes to the Julian Alps and central Apennines, with a small populations in the Apuan Alps. This typical mountain species prefers lightly shaded woods and scrubland up to 2000 meters a.s.l.. It is often found on blackberry leaves. Barbitistes obtusus can reach a length of 18–20 millimetres (0.71–0.79 in) in males, of 20–21 millimetres (0.79–0.83 in) in female, with an ovipositor of 9–10 millimetres (0.35–0.39 in). This species is very similar to Barbitistes serricauda, so that both species are difficult to distinguish from each other. The ground color varies greatly from gray and light brown to olive green and turquoise. Dark individuals are rare. The head is reddish. The reddish to dark antennae are about a body length and show a small bright ring at regular intervals. Two yellow stripes with red border extend from the eyes on pronotum and tegmina. The abdomen is short and thick, while the pronotum and head are quite small. The abdomen has tiny dark spots. The reddish legs are of medium length and wear small spines. The sharply formed wings are reddish brown and laterally yellow lined. In the female the wings are shorter and they may be greenish, yellowish or reddish brown. The cerci of the male are dark red-brown, clearly S-shaped, with rounded apex. They are the most important distinction between this species and Barbitistes serricauda. Adults can be found from June to August feeding on plants and small invertebrates. About egg laying and development little is known. The singing of this species consists of short sounds generated 3-10 times per minute depending on the temperature.