Steppe Dyboka - the disappearing grasshopper

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Steppe Dybka is the largest grasshopper ever found in Russia. The insect belongs to the subfamily of dykes. At the moment, it is an endangered species of insects and is listed in the Red Book.

Description

The body length of a female without an ovipositor is 30-40 mm, and with it - 70-90 mm. The wings of a large insect are either absent altogether, or are presented in the form of very short rudiments and do not bring any visible benefit.

The steppe dybka has an elongated head with a sharply sloping forehead. Numerous strong spikes are located on the front and middle thighs. The hind legs are elongated, but, unlike other grasshoppers, they practically do not help the hay when jumping. Nevertheless, this insect can jump quite impressive distances. The steppe dybka, the photo of which can be seen in the article, is painted green or greenish-yellow with a longitudinal border located on the sides. This color allows a small predator to hide in the grass or other thickets and catch beetles and other small animals. In addition, it is an excellent disguise that protects the grasshopper from its enemies.

Habitats

Steppe hump prettydistributed in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It can also be found in Moldova, Ukraine and Southern Europe. In Russia, the insect inhabits areas in the unplowed steppes and lives in Kursk, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Samara and other regions. The insect can be found in thickets of thorns, as well as in the bushes of stony steppes. The closest relatives of these grasshoppers live in South Africa and Australia. Until recently, the steppe dybka lived throughout the steppe zone, from the Kharkov and Chelyabinsk regions in the north to the Crimea and the Caucasus in the south.

Today, the area of residence of these grasshoppers has decreased, and now they can only be found in Ciscaucasia.

Food

In nutrition, preference is given to cereal-forb plants. By nature, this grasshopper is a predator. Mostly hunts at night. Steppe bugs feed on grasshopper grasshoppers, as well as insects such as praying mantises, bed bugs and other small beetles.

Reproduction

Propagated by parthenogenetic method. Presumably, the steppe gorse has 68 chromosomes, which is twice as many as that of the saddle grasshopper. The female starts laying eggs 3-4 weeks after the imaginal molt. Throughout its life, the grasshopper lays eggs in the soil in small portions. Thus, almost all the time it is at the stage of reproduction. It is known that even after the death of a female, more than a dozen eggs can be found in her body.

Hatching larvae about 12 in sizemillimeters. Throughout development, young grasshoppers go through eight instars and reach full maturity in 25 days.

Limiting factors and protection

The total number of these unusual grasshoppers continues to decline steadily. This is because the natural habitat of these insects is constantly being destroyed. To date, this factor is not fatal, as there are still shelters in the form of ravines and other places with low relief. Such a habitat is suitable for the feeding of the steppe dybka. These places are the most favorable and meet all the needs, as well as the biological characteristics of such grasshoppers.

The greatest danger to the existence of the steppe dybka at the moment is the large-scale use of insecticides. Since crops are constantly sprayed with chemicals in most fields, giant grasshoppers suffer greatly. But nevertheless, the steppe dybka, the photo of which is presented below, is protected in the Zhiguli, Khopersky and Bashkirsky reserves.

Experts recommend keeping the plowed areas in the fields intact within the habitat of these insects. They also advise to refrain from haymaking in these places and stop cutting bushes and trees.

Steppe Dybka is listed in the Red Book

This species was included in the Red Book and is currently protected by law as endangered, just like a close relative of the steppe ridge - the saddle grasshopper. The hallmark of thisinsect is that its back really resembles a saddle.

Among other things, large grasshoppers are included in the European Red List, as well as in the Red Book of Ukraine.

In conclusion

Today it is very important to protect not only large animals, but even the smallest insects from extinction, as they are an indispensable part of the food cycle in nature. By destroying small grasshoppers, we deprive larger individuals that feed on bugs, bugs, flies, etc. Ultimately, this leads to the fact that larger animals suffer and gradually begin to disappear from the face of the Earth.

Scientists annually add the most endangered species of animals and plants to the Red Book. The extermination of these living beings is punishable by law and is strictly prohibited throughout the world.