They now skip through the meadows and can hardly be overlooked or heard: the locusts herald late summer. The nature conservation association therefore calls for reporting sightings on naturobservation.at or the app of the same name. The emphasis is on the green bush cricket and the leek cricket.
It creeps and chirps everywhere, because: The locusts are on the move! The hoppers can mainly be heard singing in meadows and on field edges, but also in parks, gardens and shrubs. Not only do they benefit from the heat and drought in the summer, they also depend on it.
About 140 different species
The best time to observe the green and brown funnels is in August and September when all species draw attention to themselves with their singing. They grind with their mouthparts, drum with their feet, or rub their wing covers together or against their back feet. It is mainly the males that you hear singing. Their song serves to attract females to mate, as well as to defend their territory against competitors. There are about 140 different species in Austria, each with its own characteristic chirping, crackling or rattle. With us, locusts occur from the low valleys to the alpine mountain areas, and from the moorlands to the steppe areas, the species diversity being particularly high in the east and south.
Observe and report locusts!
Observing nature is an important tool for consciously observing and understanding the world of animals and plants. To increase the level of knowledge about the summer hoppers, the conservation association is requesting observations of two special species naturebeobachtung.at or to report via the app of the same name:
photography tips
When observing locusts, the basic rule is: be guided by the singing. Nevertheless, it is advisable to proceed with caution, as the animals, as their name suggests, are easily startled, jump or even fly away. Once they’re gone, it’s not so easy to track down the horrors again. Large or solid green grasshoppers are best photographed from above to see their patterns. Hoppers with long feelers, on the other hand, prefer to shoot from the side. If you want to play it safe, it’s a good idea to shoot the animals from different angles; this makes it much easier to clearly identify them!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
