Katanga Squeaker vs Dark Bush-cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Katanga Squeaker Dark Bush-cricket
Scientific Name Brachytrupes membranaceus Pholidoptera griseoaptera
Order Orthoptera Orthoptera
Family Gryllidae Tettigoniidae
Size 35-55mm 15-20mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Africa Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Katanga Squeaker

A very large burrowing cricket with a broad head and powerful jaws. It digs deep vertical burrows up to 50cm deep. Males call loudly from their burrow entrances at dusk.

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Did You Know?

It pulls leaves down into its burrow to eat and plugs the entrance with a ball of soil during the day.

Dark Bush-cricket

A robust dark brown bush-cricket with vestigial wings. It is common in hedgerows and woodland edges across Europe. Males produce a short sharp chirp repeated at regular intervals.

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Did You Know?

Despite being flightless, it has been steadily expanding northward in Europe, likely driven by climate warming.