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Gryllotalpa africana

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This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Folly Mox (talk | contribs) at 18:04, 1 June 2023 (Subspecies and similar species: improve citation). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.

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Gryllotalpa africana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Family: Gryllotalpidae
Genus: Gryllotalpa
Species:
G. africana
Binomial name
Gryllotalpa africana

Gryllotalpa africana, also known as the African mole cricket, is a relatively small mole cricket species, native to Africa, but local populations exist in Asia, and southern Europe.

Subspecies and similar species

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It is now understood that G. africana is a species complex that may include cryptic species. These cryptic species can be distinguished only by their song patterns. There are two subspecies of G. africana; the Orthoptera Species File[1] lists:

Biology

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The species is omnivorous. The mole cricket lives underground, making burrows and feeding on plant roots, larvae and other insects. It goes to the surface only at night - mostly in the mating season. It can fly too, when changing territory or when females are searching for males. Males call females by chirping. This cricket is considered a pest in some regions.

References

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  1. ^ Orthoptera Species File. "species group Gryllotalpa (africana) Palisot de Beauvois, 1820". orthoptera.speciesfile.org. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
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