Calperum ottei

3 A recently described pygmy cricket at Cook, ACT

Calperum ottei at Cook, ACT - 14 Mar 2018
Calperum ottei at Cook, ACT - 14 Mar 2018
Calperum ottei at Cook, ACT - 14 Mar 2018
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Identification history

Calperum ottei 4 Mar 2019 MichaelMulvaney
Bobilla sp. (genus) 18 Mar 2018 RogerF
Bobilla sp. (genus) 18 Mar 2018 CathB

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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

Youning wrote:
   22 Nov 2018
Calperum sp.
jgl wrote:
   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.
RogerF wrote:
   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?
AaronClausen wrote:
   5 Mar 2019
Well done Cath you legend.
jgl wrote:
   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
CathB wrote:
   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.

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Nearby sightings

Page 2 of 9 - image sightings only

Macrobathra (genus) (A cosmet moth) at Cook, ACT - 19 Feb 2023 by CathB
Conocephalus upoluensis (Meadow Katydid) at Cook, ACT - 19 Feb 2023 by CathB
Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth) at Cook, ACT - 14 Feb 2023 by CathB
Suhpalacsa sp. (genus) (Owlfly) at Cook, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by CathB
Platyptilia celidotus (Plume Moth) at Cook, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by CathB
Cymbacha ocellata (Crab spider) at Cook, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by CathB
Jalmenus icilius (Amethyst Hairstreak) at Cook, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by CathB
Obrida fascialis (One banded longicorn) at Cook, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by CathB
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Cook, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by CathB
Nemophora sparsella (An Adelid Moth) at Cook, ACT - 24 Jan 2023 by CathB
Anzora unicolor (Grey Planthopper) at Cook, ACT - 24 Jan 2023 by CathB
Siphanta sp. (genus) (Green planthopper, Torpedo bug) at Cook, ACT - 24 Jan 2023 by CathB
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Cook, ACT - 23 Jan 2023 by CathB
Endotricha pyrosalis (A Pyralid moth) at Cook, ACT - 23 Jan 2023 by CathB
Casbia pallens (Pale Casbia) at Cook, ACT - 23 Jan 2023 by CathB
Runcinia acuminata (Pointy Crab Spider) at Cook, ACT - 19 Jan 2023 by CathB
Megachile (Hackeriapis) oblonga (A Megachild bee) at Cook, ACT - 19 Jan 2023 by CathB
Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth) at Cook, ACT - 17 Jan 2023 by CathB
Snellenia lineata (A concealer moth) at Cook, ACT - 16 Jan 2023 by CathB
Nemophora sparsella (An Adelid Moth) at Cook, ACT - 16 Jan 2023 by CathB
Jalmenus icilius (Amethyst Hairstreak) at Cook, ACT - 14 Jan 2023 by Tammy
Neolucia agricola (Fringed Heath-blue) at Cook, ACT - 20 Dec 2022 by CathB
Lichenaula lichenea (Lichenaula lichenea) at Cook, ACT - 19 Dec 2022 by CathB
Pollanisus (genus) (A Forester Moth) at Cook, ACT - 18 Dec 2022 by Tammy
Helicoverpa armigera (Cotton bollworm, Corn earworm) at Mount Painter - 18 Dec 2022 by Tammy
Hemicordulia tau (Tau Emerald) at Cook, ACT - 9 Dec 2022 by Chantal
Reduviidae (family) (An assassin bug) at Cook, ACT - 3 Dec 2022 by patrickcox
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Unidentified Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Cook, ACT - 18 Nov 2022 by Tammy
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Cook, ACT - 10 Nov 2022 by CathB
Megachile (Hackeriapis) oblonga (A Megachild bee) at Cook, ACT - 10 Nov 2022 by Tammy
Trapezites phigalia (Heath Ochre) at Cook, ACT - 10 Nov 2022 by Tammy
Carphurus sp. (genus) (Soft-winged flower beetle) at Cook, ACT - 9 Nov 2022 by CathB
Amphirhoe sloanei (Longicorn or Longhorn beetle) at Cook, ACT - 9 Nov 2022 by CathB
Plebs bradleyi (Enamelled spider) at Cook, ACT - 25 Oct 2022 by Tammy
Plebs bradleyi (Enamelled spider) at Cook, ACT - 24 Oct 2022 by CathB
Ligustrum lucidum (Large-leaved Privet) at Cook, ACT - 21 Oct 2022 by SarahHnatiuk
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium (Halictid bee) at Cook, ACT - 9 Oct 2022 by CathB
Lanciana montana (Montane Ground Shield-back) at Cook, ACT - 25 Sep 2022 by CathB
Plecoptera sp. (order) (Unidentified Stone fly) at Cook, ACT - 25 Sep 2022 by CathB
Staphylinidae (family) (Rove beetle) at Cook, ACT - 19 Sep 2022 by CathB
Acacia boormanii (Snowy River Wattle) at Cook, ACT - 28 Aug 2022 by Tammy
Dermocybe austroveneta (Green Skinhead) at Cook, ACT - 18 May 2022 by Tammy
Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Cook, ACT - 18 May 2022 by Tammy
Acacia genistifolia (Early Wattle) at Cook, ACT - 24 Apr 2022 by drakes
Chorista australis (Autumn scorpion fly) at Cook, ACT - 5 Apr 2022 by Tammy
Symphyla (class) (Symphylan or garden centipede) at Cook, ACT - 26 Mar 2022 by CathB
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2022 by CathB
Nuliodon fishburni (Fishburn's Prowling Coastal Hunter) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2022 by CathB
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2022 by CathB
Calperum ottei (A recently described pygmy cricket) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2022 by CathB
Grylloidea (superfamily) (Unidentified cricket) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2022 by CathB
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2022 by CathB
Conocephalus upoluensis (Meadow Katydid) at Cook, ACT - 13 Feb 2022 by CathB
Linyphiidae (family) (Money spider or Sheet-web spider) at Cook, ACT - 1 Feb 2022 by CathB
Nemophora sparsella (An Adelid Moth) at Cook, ACT - 9 Jan 2022 by CathB
Exoneura sp. (genus) (A reed bee) at Cook, ACT - 9 Jan 2022 by CathB
Stomorhina sp. (genus) (Snout fly) at Cook, ACT - 9 Jan 2022 by CathB
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 28 Dec 2021 by CathB
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Cook, ACT - 19 Dec 2021 by CathB
Senecio quadridentatus (Cotton Fireweed) at Cook, ACT - 19 Dec 2021 by drakes
Leptorhynchos squamatus (Scaly Buttons) at Cook, ACT - 15 Nov 2021 by SusanneG
Xerochrysum viscosum (Sticky Everlasting) at Cook, ACT - 15 Nov 2021 by SusanneG
Dillwynia sp. at Cook, ACT - 15 Nov 2021 by SusanneG
Hednota bivittella (Webworm) at Cook, ACT - 11 Nov 2021 by CathB
Phytoecia coerulescens (Paterson's curse stem beetle) at Cook, ACT - 5 Nov 2021 by CathB
Orthorhinus klugii (Vine weevil) at Mount Painter - 25 Oct 2021 by CathB
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Cook, ACT - 24 Oct 2021 by CathB
Cryptocephalinae (sub-family) (A case-bearing leaf beetle) at Cook, ACT - 23 Oct 2021 by CathB
Aphodiinae (subfamily) (Aphodiine scarab beetle) at Mount Painter - 23 Oct 2021 by CathB
Plecoptera sp. (order) (Unidentified Stone fly) at Cook, ACT - 23 Oct 2021 by CathB
Tipulidae or Limoniidae (family) (Unidentified Crane Fly) at Cook, ACT - 23 Oct 2021 by CathB
Melobasis propinqua (Propinqua jewel beetle) at Cook, ACT - 15 Oct 2021 by CathB
Ardozyga mesochra and similar species at Cook, ACT - 14 Oct 2021 by CathB
Gynoplistia sp. (genus) (Crane fly) at Cook, ACT - 9 Oct 2021 by CathB
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae (Silver Gull) at Cook, ACT - 8 Oct 2021 by Tammy
Luzula densiflora (Dense Wood-rush) at Cook, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by drakes
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Cook, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by CathB
Hyalopeza schneiderae (A fruit fly) at Cook, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by CathB
Lehtinelagia sp. (genus) (Flower Spider or Crab Spider) at Cook, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by CathB
Liparetrus sp. (genus) (Chafer beetle) at Cook, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by CathB
Argoctenus sp. (genus) (Wandering ghost spider) at Cook, ACT - 1 Oct 2021 by CathB
Runcinia acuminata (Pointy Crab Spider) at Cook, ACT - 1 Oct 2021 by CathB
Sarothrocrepis civica (An arboreal 'ground' beetle) at Cook, ACT - 1 Oct 2021 by CathB
Melobasis propinqua (Propinqua jewel beetle) at Cook, ACT - 1 Oct 2021 by CathB
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Cook, ACT - 1 Oct 2021 by CathB
Paratettix australis (A pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 26 Sep 2021 by CathB
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 26 Sep 2021 by CathB
Paratettix argillaceus (A pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 26 Sep 2021 by CathB
Leucopogon virgatus (Common Beard-heath) at Cook, ACT - 22 Sep 2021 by Tammy
Bossiaea buxifolia (Matted Bossiaea) at Cook, ACT - 21 Sep 2021 by MattFox
Glycine clandestina (Twining Glycine) at Cook, ACT - 17 Sep 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Cook, ACT - 16 Sep 2021 by CathB
Cymbonotus sp. (preissianus or lawsonianus) (Bears Ears) at Cook, ACT - 10 Sep 2021 by drakes
Luzula meridionalis (Common Woodrush) at Cook, ACT - 9 Sep 2021 by drakes
Dillwynia sp. at Cook, ACT - 9 Sep 2021 by MattFox
Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher) at Cook, ACT - 6 Sep 2021 by Tammy
Pseudaeolus sp. (genus) (A click beetle) at Cook, ACT - 2 Sep 2021 by CathB
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 2 Sep 2021 by CathB
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Cook, ACT - 2 Sep 2021 by Tammy
Uperoleia laevigata (Smooth Toadlet) at Cook, ACT - 31 Aug 2021 by ZaLaDa

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 14 Mar 2018 07:55 AM Recorded on
  • CathB Recorded by

Species information

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