Thyreonotus is a genus of shieldback katydids belonging to the subfamily Tettigoniinae within the family Tettigoniidae. Characterized by a robust body and a prominently enlarged, armor-like pronotum (the shield plate covering the top of the thorax), these flightless or short-winged orthopterans are specialized ground and bush dwellers.
While many diverse shieldback genera inhabit North America and Southern Africa, Thyreonotus is distinctively native to the western Mediterranean region.
Profile Overview
• Taxonomy: Order Orthoptera → Family Tettigoniidae → Subfamily Tettigoniinae → Tribe Tettigoniini → Genus Thyreonotus.
• Primary Species: Thyreonotus corsicus (commonly known as the European shieldback or European locust). (Note: Historical Southern African species like Thyreonotus semi-aeneus have been reclassified into other genera, such as Alfredectes).
• Distribution: Found predominantly across Southwest Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Corsica, and Sardinia.
• Habitat: Heavily vegetated, arid, and sunny environments such as garigues, scrublands, maquis, and dry, open pine woodlands.
