Ephippiger terrestris Yersin, 1854

Giuliano, Davide, 2022, Orthopteran diversity and distribution in the Monviso Natural Park (Western Italian Alps) (Orthoptera), Fragmenta entomologica 54 (1), pp. 45-64 : 52

1.17 Ephippiger terrestris Yersin, 1854

Ch: ALPW; ERL: LC; P-V; %C: 2.16; ER: 1610-1770 m; Ph: IX-X

E. terrestris is a W-Alpine endemic, occurring in the study area with the ssp. bormansi . This species has been observed in the Varaita Valley only, where it prefers shrubby areas on warm and dry slopes.

2. Rhaphidophoridae

2.1 Dolichopoda (Dolichopoda) azami Saulcy, 1893

Ch: ALSW; ERL: LC; P-V; %C: 1.44; ER: 1440-1580 m; Ph: IX

D. azami show a distribution restricted to the southwestern Alps, occurring in the MNP with the ssp. ligustica . This species is well-adapted to live in subterranean habitats, with only two records in the study area: one in an abandoned mine (Croce d’Alie, Sampeyre, 1580 m; 07/09/2019; DG), while a second occurrence locality is reported for the Buco di Valenza cave (Crissolo, 1440 m; Balbiano D’Aramengo & Bonelli 1975). Moreover, D. azami is mentioned for the Buco del Maestro cave (Calcinere, Paesana, 750 m; Allegrucci et al. 2014), situated a few hundred meters outside the MNP in the Po Valley.

3. Trigonidiidae

3.1 Nemobius sylvestris (Bosc, 1792)

Ch: EUR; ERL: LC; P*-V*; %C: 14.39; ER: 770-1850 m; Ph: VII-XI

This species has been observed in most MNP’s broadleaved forests, especially on warmer slopes. N. sylvestris proved also to occur in some subalpine shrublands, up to 1850 m in the Po Valley (L’Arp, Ostana; 04/11/2019; DG). According to the available data, this latter locality represents a new altitudinal record for this cricket in Italy .

4. Gryllidae

4.1 Gryllus (Gryllus) campestris Linnaeus, 1758

Ch: TEM; ERL: LC; P*-V; %C: 7.91; ER: 780-1600 m; Ph: V-VII

G. campestris has been observed only in open habitats at low elevations, preferring south-facing meadows.