Confirmation of the presence of Chorthippus apricarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Caelifera, Gomphocerinae) in Slovenia
Paul VEENVLIET
Metulje 9. SI-1385 Nova vas, Slovenia. E-mail: paul.veenvliet@zavod-symbiosis.si
Abstract. In summer 2004, Chorthippus apricarius was found on Bloke plateau. This finding confirms the presence of this species in Slovenia, which was previously only documented in two unpublished camp reports.
Key words: grasshoppers, Chorthippus apricarius, Bloke plateau, Slovenia
Izvleček. POTRDITEV PRISOTNOSTI CHORTHIPPUS APRICARIUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) (CAELIFERA, GOMPHOCERINAE) V SLOVENIJI - Poleti 2004 sem na Bloški planoti našel vrsto kobilice Chorthippus apricarius. S tem je potrjena prisotnost vrste v Sloveniji, kar je bilo do sedaj zabeleženo le v dveh neobjavljenih poročilih s taborov.
Ključne besede: kobilice, Chorthippus apricarius, Bloška planota, Slovenija
Chorthippus apricarius occurs widespread in the Palearctis. However, until recently it has not been recorded in Slovenia. Ingberg et al. (1997) and Hospers (1998) were the first to include this species in field reports, but were not aware that it had not been recorded in Slovenia before. In August 2002 I photographed a male Chorthippus grasshopper at Goričice near Cerknica, Slovenia. I suspected that this might be C. apricarius, but did not preserve any specimens. On the 3rd of August 2004, I found more individuals in the surroundings of Fara and at Metulje, Bloke plateau, Slovenia. Because I gained experience with this species at Zwolle, the Netherlands, I could confirm that the Slovene specimens are indeed C. apricarius. Several photographs and scans have been made and voucher specimens from the Bloke plateau are donated to the collections of the Slovene Museum of Natural History and of Stanislav Gomboc.
NATURA SLOVENIAE 6(1): 41-43
ZOTKS Gibanje znanost mladini, Ljubljana, 2004
42                         Paul VEENVLIET: Confirmation of the presence of Chorthippus apricarius ... / SHORT COMMUNICATION
C. apricarius is a relatively small grasshopper with a yellowish brown colour, described as the colour of ripe grain (Detzel, 1998)). Main identification characters are (after Detzel 1998 and Harz 1975):
-      The vein-pattern in the forewings which shows an enlarged medial field. In males this shows a regular ladder-pattern of veins while in females this pattern is net-like. In addition both sexes have a broadened precostal field in the wings with a regular vein pattern.
-      An oval-shaped tympanum.
-      The characteristic song of the male sounds rather like a steam-locomotive and is described as »k-chi-chi-k-chi-chi-k-chi-chi«. This song can be heard at several meters distance.
Both at Goričice and at Fara C. apricarius were found in meadows. Most numerous other grasshoppers at these sites are species that are widespread in Slovene meadows like C. parallelus, C. dorsatus and Stenobothrus nigromaculatus.
Figure 1. Male Chorthippus apricarius from Fara, Bloke plateau, Slovenia. Illustration made after a photograph taken on
3rd August 2004 (Illustrated by Paul Veenvliet).
Slika 1. Samec vrste Chorthippus apricarius iz Fare na Bloški planoti, Slovenija. Ilustracija je narejena na podlagi
fotografije, posnete 3. avgusta 2004 (ilustracija Paul Veenvliet).
NATURA SLOVENIAE 6(1): 41-43
43
Figure 2. Left forewing of a male Chorthippus apricarius from Fara, Bloke plateau, Slovenia. The letter ‘M’ indicates the enlarged medial field (see text for further information). Illustration after an individual collected on 3rd August 2004.
(Illustrated by Paul Veenvliet). Slika 2. Leva pokrovka (nezložljivo krilo) samca vrste Chorthippus apricarius iz Fare na Bloški planoti, Slovenija. S črko M je označeno srednje (medialno) polje (glej razlago v besedilu). Ilustracija je narejena po osebku, ujetem 3. avgusta 2004
(ilustracija Paul Veenvliet).
Acknowledgements
Stanislav Gomboc and Peter Trontelj informed me that this species had not yet been documented in Slovenia.
Literature
Detzel, P., 1998. Die Heuschrecken Baden-Württembergs. Verlag Ulmer GmbH & Co, Stuttgart.
Ingberg, H. A., A. Hospers & M. Hospers, 1997. Sprinkhanen verslag. In: Inberg, H. A., 1997, Slovenië zomerkamp; Velike bloke 1997. Unpublished report of the Jeugdbond voor Natuur en Milieustudie, Utrecht: 29-33.
Harz, K., 1975. Die Orthopteren Europas II; volume II. Dr. W. Junk B.V. publishers, the Hague.
Hospers, A. 1998. Sprinkhanen. In: KNNV, 1998. KNNC-AKC-kamp Velike Bloke – Slovenië van 13 juli tot 27 juli 1998. Unpublished report of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Natuurhistorische Vereniging, Utrecht: 41-50.