Pamphagus sardeus

Pamphagus sardeus
	P. sardeus, female
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Suborder:	Caelifera
Family:	Pamphagidae
Subfamily:	Pamphaginae
Tribe:	Pamphagini
Genus:	Pamphagus
Species:	P. sardeus
Binomial name
	Pamphagus sardeus; (Herrich-Schäffer, 1840)
Synonyms
	Pamphagus marmoratus var. elegans Krauss (1914);

Pamphagus sardeus is a large species of Pamphagidae and one of the most massive Italian Orthoptera.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be encountered exclusively in Sardinia, and is more frequently found in spring and summer in the southern part of the island, where it lives in dry natural grassland.^[1]

Description

The adult males grow up to 45.9–61 millimetres (1.81–2.40 in) long, while females reach 55–70 millimetres (2.2–2.8 in). The overall shape is typical of Pamphagidae and very similar to Pamphagus marmoratus, to the point that for a long time this species was reported as P. marmoratus before the works by Harz (1969^[2] and 1975^[3]) definitively separated it on the basis of the longer cerci, a different profile of the ultimate tergite and the shape of male genitalia. ^[4]

Biology

Pamphagus sardeus, like the other Pamphagidae, is herbivore. Adults, especially females, rarely jump, look quite torpid and clumsy and can be easily captured with the hands. Although relatively widespread, it's not easy to meet and it never occurs in large numbers.

A lab audio recording attributed to P. sardeus is available on the Orthoptera Species File website.

Gallery

A female specimen of Sardinia's endemic Pamphagus sardeus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1840)

References

^ Iorio, Carmine; Scherini, Roberto; Fontana, Paolo; Buzzetti, Filippo M.; Kleukers, Roy; Odé, Baudewijn; Massa, Bruno (2019). Grasshoppers and Crickets of Italy. Verona, Italy: WBA Project. pp. 364–366. ISBN -978-88-903323-9-5.
^ Harz, Kurt (1969). Die Orthopteren Europas/The Orthoptera of Europe Volume I. The Hague, Netherlands: Junk B.V. ISBN 978-90-481-8512-2.
^ Harz, Kurt (1975). Die Orthopteren Europas/The Orthoptera of Europe Volume II. The Hague, Netherlands: Junk B.V. ISBN 978-90-619-3121-8.
^ Massa, Bruno; Fontana, Paolo; Buzzetti, Filippo M.; Kleukers, Roy (2012). FAUNA D'ITALIA Vol. XLVIII - Orthoptera. Milan, Italy: Calderini. pp. 377–378. ISBN 978-88-506-5408-6.

External links

Data related to Pamphagus sardeus at Wikispecies
Media related to Pamphagus sardeus at Wikimedia Commons
Panfago Sardo su Sardegna Natura
Video of a specimen of Pamphagus sardeus

[1] Iorio, Carmine; Scherini, Roberto; Fontana, Paolo; Buzzetti, Filippo M.; Kleukers, Roy; Odé, Baudewijn; Massa, Bruno (2019). Grasshoppers and Crickets of Italy. Verona, Italy: WBA Project. pp. 364–366. ISBN -978-88-903323-9-5.

[2] Harz, Kurt (1969). Die Orthopteren Europas/The Orthoptera of Europe Volume I. The Hague, Netherlands: Junk B.V. ISBN 978-90-481-8512-2.

[3] Harz, Kurt (1975). Die Orthopteren Europas/The Orthoptera of Europe Volume II. The Hague, Netherlands: Junk B.V. ISBN 978-90-619-3121-8.

[4] Massa, Bruno; Fontana, Paolo; Buzzetti, Filippo M.; Kleukers, Roy (2012). FAUNA D'ITALIA Vol. XLVIII - Orthoptera. Milan, Italy: Calderini. pp. 377–378. ISBN 978-88-506-5408-6.

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