Brachytrupes megacephalus

Brachytrupes megacephalus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Suborder:	Ensifera
Family:	Gryllidae
Genus:	Brachytrupes
Species:	B. megacephalus
Binomial name
Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefèbvre, 1827)
Synonyms
Gryllus megacephalus Lefèbvre, 1827 Brachytrypes megacephalus (Lefebvre, 1827)

Brachytrupes megacephalus is a species of cricket in the family Gryllidae. ^{[1] [2]} The species is native to the Mediterranean region.

Description and behavior

Brachytrupes megacephalus can reach a length of about 40 mm (1.6 in). This species is characterized by a very large head (hence the specific name megacephalus) and strong jaws. The tibia of the front and rear legs are armed with big "teeth" which facilitate the action of digging the deep holes in sandy soils in which this cricket lives. This insect has crepuscular and nocturnal habits. The mating period extends from mid-March to the end of April. After mating, the males keep the females captive in their holes until they lay their eggs. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefèbvre, 1827) photographed on 24 Apr 2018 at Capo Pecora (Sardinia)

Distribution and habitat

The species Brachytrupes megacephalus can be found in sandy environments in Sardinia, Sicily, Malta and North Africa. ^{[6] [7]}

Brachytrupes megacephalus photographed at Capo Pecora (Sardinia)

Bibliography

• Saussure, H. (1877). Mem. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Geneve25 (1): 285 [117].
• Kirby, W.F. (1906). A Synonymic Catalogue of Orthoptera (Orthoptera Saltatoria, Locustidae vel Acridiidae)2: 23.
• Giglio-Tos, E. (1907). Boll. Musei Zool. Anat. Comp. R. Univ. Torino22 (563): 23.
• Lefèbvre, A. (1827). Ann. Soc. Linn. Paris6: 10.
• Serville, J. (1839). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Orthoptères 326.
• Randell, R.L. (1964). Canadian Ent.96: 1587. >> Brachytrupes megacephalus
• Massa, B. (2009). Jour. Orth. Res.18 (1): 78. >> Brachytrupes megacephalus
• Cassar, L.-F. (2009). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Malta 2 :126. >> Brachytrupes megacephalus
• Sahnoun, Doumandji & Desutter-Grandcolas. (2010). Zootaxa 2432:8 >> Brachytrupes megacephalus
• Brizio, C. (2018). Biodiversity Journal9 (2): 135–142. >> "Bioacoustic evidence of two uncommon crickets from SW Sardinia, including an analysis of the song of B. megacephalus in the ultrasonic range".

References

1. Biolib
2. Orthoptera Species
3. Entomologi Italiani
4. Serville A., 1838. Histoire naturelle des insectes. Orthoptères p. 326
5. Petralia A., Russo C., Cartarrasa S., 2003. TOPOLOGY OF BRACHYTRUPES MEGACEPHALUS (LEFEBVRE, 1827) (ORTHOPTERA, GRYLLIDAE) IN SOME SICILIAN NATURAL RESERVES
6. Fauna europaea
7. Erminia Conti Eco-ethology of Brachytrupes megacephalus (Orthoptera, Gryllidae), protected species in UE