Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket

tessellana tessellata

The Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket (Tessellana tessellata) is a small, charming orthopteran native to the warm, sun-drenched grasslands of Southern and Central Europe. This agile bush-cricket is famous for its intricate, mosaic-like coloration, which allows it to blend seamlessly into dry grasses and sandy soils. Unlike its larger, louder relatives, this species maintains a subtle profile, relying on its cryptic appearance to evade predators while hunting for tiny insects or nibbling on wild herbs. Observant nature lovers will find delight in uncovering this miniature marvel, whose delicate, rhythmic song is a quintessential soundtrack of late summer afternoons.

Habitat: Found in warm, dry, and sandy habitats such as arid grasslands, coastal dunes, and sun-exposed meadows with sparse vegetation.

Appearance

This small bush-cricket typically measures between 1 and 2 centimeters in length, boasting a light brown to greyish-beige body covered in a distinctive pattern of dark brown tessellated spots, particularly along its forewings and the sides of its pronotum. Its hind legs are strongly developed for leaping, marked with dark stripes. Females feature a relatively short, upward-curved, blade-like ovipositor, while their wings are moderately developed, often extending just to or slightly beyond the tip of the abdomen, aiding in short, fluttering escapes rather than sustained flight.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOrthopteraFamilyTettigoniidaeGenusTessellana

Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket

Interesting facts

The species name 'tessellata' comes from the Latin word for mosaic, referencing the exquisite checkered patterns on their wings.

Their high-frequency courtship song is so high-pitched that many humans over the age of forty cannot hear it without the aid of a bat detector.

To escape predators, they rely on a jump-and-drop strategy, leaping high into the air and then plummeting into the deep grass where they remain perfectly still.

Special abilities

Its intricate pattern of brown and beige spots creates a perfect visual disruption, allowing it to hide in plain sight among dry grasses.

Males produce a rapid, high-pitched stridulation by rubbing their wings together, creating a sound used to attract mates that is often at the upper limit of human hearing.

Using its powerful, muscular hind legs, it can catapult itself several times its body length to escape predators in an instant.

Measurements & details

Length: 1+ cm
Wingspan: 2+ cm
Weight: 0.001+ kg
Lifespan: 1+ years
Clutch Size: 30+
Incubation: 180+ days

Diet & Feeding

It feeds on a balanced mix of small soft-bodied insects and various plant materials like grasses and clover.

Primary Foods

Aphids
Small caterpillars
Grasses
Dandelion leaves
Plant pollen

Foraging Method

Foraging2019s Fine Scale Predation And Browsing Among Vegetation Stems And Low Lying Herbage Or Stalking Slow Moving Aphids And Caterpillars To Grab Them Using Chewing Mouthparts. It Does Not Ambush Or Pursue Over Long Distances But Opportunistically Consumes Both Plant Tissue And Live Prey Encountered During Its Daily Patrols Through Grassland Cover. By Relying On Its Excellent Camouflage And Patient Movements It Safely Harvests Nutrients While Remaining Virtually Invisible To Larger Predators Such As Birds And Spiders Active In The Same Habitats.

Ecological connections

eaten by

European Praying Mantis

Mantis religiosa

Preys on this insect as a source of protein.

host plant

Red Clover

Trifolium pratense

Forages on this common grassland plant.

hunts

Green Peach Aphid

Myzus persicae

Predator of this small insect, helping control its population.

Traits

No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Collections for this object will appear here as more themes are added.

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket?

The easiest way to identify Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket?

1+ cm

What is Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket's wingspan?

2+ cm

How much does Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket weigh?

0.001+ kg

How long does Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket live?

1+ years

What does Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket eat?

It feeds on a balanced mix of small soft-bodied insects and various plant materials like grasses and clover.

Where is Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket usually found?

Found in warm, dry, and sandy habitats such as arid grasslands, coastal dunes, and sun-exposed meadows with sparse vegetation.

How does Brown-Spotted Bush-Cricket hunt?

Foraging2019s Fine Scale Predation And Browsing Among Vegetation Stems And Low Lying Herbage Or Stalking Slow Moving Aphids And Caterpillars To Grab Them Using Chewing Mouthparts. It Does Not Ambush Or Pursue Over Long Distances But Opportunistically Consumes Both Plant Tissue And Live Prey Encountered During Its Daily Patrols Through Grassland Cover. By Relying On Its Excellent Camouflage And Patient Movements It Safely Harvests Nutrients While Remaining Virtually Invisible To Larger Predators Such As Birds And Spiders Active In The Same Habitats.