Gryllotalpa africana explained

Gryllotalpa africana, also known as the African mole cricket, is a relatively small mole cricket species, native to Africa, but local populations exist in Asia, and southern Europe.

Subspecies and similar species

It is now understood that G. africana is a species complex that may include cryptic species. These cryptic species can be distinguished only by their song patterns. There are two subspecies of G. africana; the Orthoptera Species File[1] lists:

Biology

The species is omnivorous. The mole cricket lives underground, making burrows and feeding on plant roots, larvae and other insects. It goes to the surface only at night - mostly in the mating season. It can fly too, when changing territory or when females are searching for males. Males call females by chirping. This cricket is considered a pest in some regions.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: species group Gryllotalpa (africana) Palisot de Beauvois, 1820. Orthoptera Species File. 2023-03-03. orthoptera.speciesfile.org.