Calliptamus barbarus (Eurasian Pincer Grasshopper) is a common, highly polymorphic grasshopper in the Acrididae family found across Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It inhabits rocky, arid landscapes, feeding on various grasses, and is recognized by its pinkish hind wings and reddish hind legs.
Key Facts about Calliptamus barbarus
Habitat and Behavior: Prefers dry, sunny areas like stony slopes, open scrubland, and steppe. They are active insects that use evaporation to stay cool, losing about 8–10% of their body mass in water per hour at high temperatures.
Appearance: They exhibit high color polymorphism, ranging from brownish to reddish, making them hard to identify. A key characteristic is the reddish-pink color on their hind wings.
Physical Features: Males (approx. 12–20 mm) are significantly smaller than females (approx. 21–33 mm). Males have specialized, inward-bent "pincer-like" cerci.
Life Cycle: Adults appear from June to October (sometimes April in the south). They hatch from eggs laid in the soil.
Sound Production: Both males and females produce sound via mandibles.
Differences in the sound produced by two distinct color morphs (3 spots vs. 1 spot on hind legs) suggest potential reproductive isolation or speciation.
Diet: They are generalist herbivores, feeding on various plants and grasses, and are considered agricultural pests in certain areas like Algeria.
Predators: Include birds, rodents, reptiles, and spiders.
