Wart-biter cricket  (Decticus verrucivorus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

The wart-biter cricket is a large, dark green bush-cricket, often with dark brown blotches on the pronotum and wings. A keel is present on the pronotum of both sexes and the wings are a little longer than the body. The female ovipositor is long and slightly upcurved. The English name of this species refers to the old Swedish practice of allowing the cricket to bite warts from the skin. The scientific name verrucivorus derives from the Latin, 'verruca' meaning 'wart' and 'vorous' 'to devour'. The distinctive song is only heard in hot sunny weather and consists of a series of rapidly repeated clicks in short bursts, which may last for several minutes.

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