Mountain Cicada vs Alpine Dark Bush-cricket

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mountain Cicada Alpine Dark Bush-cricket
Scientific Name Cicadetta montana Pholidoptera aptera
Order Hemiptera Orthoptera
Family Cicadidae Tettigoniidae
Size 20-26 mm body length 18-26 mm body length
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Sap Feeders Herbivores
Regions Europe, British Isles, Central Asia Alps, Balkans
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Mountain Cicada

One of the few cicadas found at high elevations in Europe. Males produce a high-pitched continuous song from treetops.

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Did You Know?

Its song is so high-pitched that many people cannot hear it.

Alpine Dark Bush-cricket

A large, dark bush-cricket found in alpine and subalpine scrublands. It is completely flightless with only vestigial wing stubs.

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Did You Know?

Despite being wingless, males can still produce sound using their tiny residual wing stubs.