Calperum cf. ottei
3 A recently described pygmy cricket at Cook, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Calperum cf. ottei | MichaelMulvaney | 4 Mar 2019 | |
| Bobilla sp. (genus) | RogerF | 18 Mar 2018 | |
| Bobilla sp. (genus) | CathB | 18 Mar 2018 |
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Significant sighting
MichaelMulvaney noted:
4 Mar 2019
First record of this genus of Pygmy Cricket in the Canberra area, an undescribed possibly new species
6 comments
5 Mar 2019
Youning Su is the Orthoptera scientist at the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra. He is currently publishing an Australian cricket field guide (in-press) with retired CSIRO scientist David Rentz. This specimen (genus) should be marked as a significant sighting: until very recently, the genus Calperum was known only from Calperum station just north of Renmark, South Australia, and from Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Very recently, a specimen was found near Round Hill, NSW (just north of Wagga Wagga). Finding this genus in Canberra is astonishing given its proximity to the Australian National Insect Collection, which has been sampling the Canberra insect fauna for nearly a century. After seeing this record Youning Su managed to collect a specimens, and established that these crickets were not active after 8 AM (but perhaps were active through the night). This unusual activity, apparently restricted to the early morning, is perhaps why they have never been recorded in the ACT.
5 Mar 2019
Indeed a great find, congratulations to Cath. Such small crickets are often overlooked and are good at avoiding cameras and close-ups. Was this specimen in grassland or woodland?
5 Mar 2019
Original description: Rentz, D.C.F. & Su, Y.N. 1996. New apterous Pygmy Crickets from Australia with notes on their habitats and re-evaluation of characters defining the Australian genera (Gryllidae: Nemobgiinae). Journal of Orthoptera Research 5: 185-198
Yet to be determined if its the same species
Yet to be determined if its the same species
5 Mar 2019
Thanks everyone. It was found very close to a fairly sharp boundary between woodland and grassland, but on the woodland side. This particular area was excluded from a prescribed burn in 2014.
When I checked my original photos, I discovered a second one taken at the time which is possibly slightly clearer. I will try to add it now.
When I checked my original photos, I discovered a second one taken at the time which is possibly slightly clearer. I will try to add it now.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.073473-35.266397
- Maps Mount Painter
- Places Cook, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 14 Mar 2018 07:55 AM Recorded on
- CathB Recorded by
Collections
- Significant CathB Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Calperum ottei Crickets (Orthoptera, several families) Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids (Orthoptera) Insects
Species information
- Calperum cf. ottei Scientific name
- A recently described pygmy cricket Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 951m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes