Ephippiger ephippiger

{{Short description|Species of cricket-like animal}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Sattelschrecke.jpg

| image_caption = Ephippiger ephippiger, Germany

| image2 =

| image2_caption =

| genus = Ephippiger

| species = ephippiger

| authority = (Fiebig, 1784)Fiebig, J. 1784: Beschreibung des Sattelträgers. [Gryllus ephippiger]. Schriften der Berlinischen Gesellschaft naturforschender Freunde, Berlin 5 260-263, col. Fig.

| synonyms =

• Gryllus ephippiger Fiebig, 1784
• Ephippigera [sic] vitium Serville, 1831
• Ephippigera [sic] fabricii Fieber, 1853
• Ephippiger fibigii Fieber, 1853
• Ephippiger ephippiger mischtschenkoi Harz, 1966
• Ephippiger ephippiger harzi Adamovic, 1973
• Ephippiger ephippiger usi Adamovic, 1973
• Ephippiger ephippiger balkanicus Andreeva, 1985
• Ephippiger ephippiger varnensis Andreeva, 1985[https://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/otus/841677/overview Orthoptera Species File]

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Ephippiger ephippiger, the saddle-backed bush cricket, is a species belonging to the family Tettigoniidae subfamily Bradyporinae. It is found primarily in central Europe, with the closely-related species Ephippiger diurnus in the west.

The habitat consists of relatively dry and sparse areas with scarce vegetation, such as heather with a few trees, where it can be found both close to the soil and higher up in the vegetation. The saddle-backed bush cricket mainly eats insects and other small animals, but also plant parts. For arable farmers, it is a useful animal because it lives in plants but mainly hunts for plant-dwelling (pest) insects. It is active during the months of August to October; the males are mainly heard between eleven o'clock in the morning and nine o'clock in the evening. The sound is clearly audible and consists of a sharp, grating squeak that sounds like tieh, but is repeated in long runs with a frequency of about one or two times per second.

Ephippiger ephippiger male (8333271438).jpg|Male

Ephippiger ephippiger female (8333270980).jpg|Female

Ephippiger ephippiger (10251226163).jpg|Head

File:Ephippiger Carotte 3.jpg|Feeding

File:Ephippiger ephippiger -- Steppen-Sattelschrecke.webm

{{Commons category}}