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 3 of 9 - image sightings only

Leucopogon virgatus (Common Beard-heath) at Cook, ACT - 28 Aug 2021 by drakes
Perga sp. (genus) (Sawfly or Spitfire) at Cook, ACT - 28 Aug 2021 by Tammy
Leucopogon fletcheri subsp. brevisepalus (Twin Flower Beard-Heath) at Cook, ACT - 27 Aug 2021 by MattFox
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 17 Aug 2021 by CathB
Luzula sp. (Woodrush) at Cook, ACT - 15 Aug 2021 by MattFox
Acacia boormanii (Snowy River Wattle) at Cook, ACT - 15 Aug 2021 by MattFox
Cassinia sifton (Sifton Bush, Chinese Shrub) at Cook, ACT - 15 Aug 2021 by MattFox
Hovea heterophylla (Common Hovea) at Cook, ACT - 15 Aug 2021 by MattFox
Acacia gunnii (Ploughshare Wattle) at Cook, ACT - 5 Aug 2021 by drakes
Acacia genistifolia (Early Wattle) at Cook, ACT - 17 Jun 2021 by drakes
Coprinellus etc. (An Inkcap) at Cook, ACT - 10 May 2021 by drakes
Pimelea curviflora (Curved Rice-flower) at Cook, ACT - 4 May 2021 by drakes
Leucopogon virgatus (Common Beard-heath) at Cook, ACT - 4 May 2021 by drakes
Maratus chrysomelas (Variable Peacock Spider) at Cook, ACT - 18 Apr 2021 by CathB
Meritastis polygraphana (Mottled Bell Moth) at Cook, ACT - 15 Apr 2021 by CathB
Trichalus sp. (genus) (Net-winged beetle) at Cook, ACT - 15 Apr 2021 by CathB
Laccaria sp. (Laccaria) at Cook, ACT - 12 Apr 2021 by drakes
Milax gagates (Black-keeled Slug) at Cook, ACT - 8 Apr 2021 by CathB
zz agaric (stem; gills white/cream) at Cook, ACT - 2 Apr 2021 by drakes
Russula sp. (Russula) at Cook, ACT - 2 Apr 2021 by drakes
Meritastis lythrodana (A tortrix or leafroller moth) at Cook, ACT - 18 Mar 2021 by drakes
Melichrus urceolatus (Urn Heath) at Cook, ACT - 18 Mar 2021 by drakes
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark) at Cook, ACT - 18 Mar 2021 by drakes
Crocanthes glycina (Crocanthes glycina) at Cook, ACT - 11 Mar 2021 by drakes
Cyclosa trilobata (Three-lobed spider) at Cook, ACT - 9 Mar 2021 by CathB
Mataeomera mesotaenia (Large Scale Moth) at Cook, ACT - 9 Mar 2021 by CathB
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by CathB
Balta spuria (A Balta Cockroach) at Cook, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by CathB
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at Cook, ACT - 6 Mar 2021 by Tammy
Opisthoncus grassator (Jumping spider) at Cook, ACT - 4 Mar 2021 by CathB
Nanodectes harpax (Small shield-back katydid) at Cook, ACT - 26 Feb 2021 by CathB
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Cook, ACT - 21 Feb 2021 by drakes
zz agaric (stem; gills not white/cream) at Cook, ACT - 21 Feb 2021 by drakes
Cassinia quinquefaria (Rosemary Cassinia) at Cook, ACT - 21 Feb 2021 by drakes
Tetrigidae (family) (Pygmy grasshopper) at Cook, ACT - 19 Feb 2021 by CathB
Amphirhoe sloanei (Longicorn or Longhorn beetle) at Cook, ACT - 18 Feb 2021 by CathB
Meranoplus sp. (genus) (Shield Ant) at Cook, ACT - 5 Feb 2021 by CathB
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Cook, ACT - 5 Feb 2021 by CathB
Sandalodes scopifer (White-spotted Sandalodes) at Cook, ACT - 5 Feb 2021 by CathB
Sandalodes superbus (Ludicra Jumping Spider) at Cook, ACT - 5 Feb 2021 by CathB
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Cook, ACT - 3 Feb 2021 by drakes
Helicoverpa (genus) (A bollworm) at Cook, ACT - 31 Jan 2021 by drakes
Laxta granicollis (Common bark or trilobite cockroach) at Cook, ACT - 20 Jan 2021 by tpreston
Oecophoridae (family) (Unidentified Oecophorid concealer moth) at Cook, ACT - 20 Jan 2021 by CathB
Mantispidae (family) (Unidentified mantisfly) at Cook, ACT - 20 Jan 2021 by CathB
Braconidae (family) (Unidentified braconid wasp) at Cook, ACT - 20 Jan 2021 by CathB
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Cook, ACT - 16 Jan 2021 by CathB
Bisallardiana gymnopleura (Brown flower chafer) at Cook, ACT - 14 Jan 2021 by CathB
Pinara undescribed species near divisa at Cook, ACT - 9 Jan 2021 by CathB
Araneus circulissparsus (species group) (Speckled Orb-weaver) at Cook, ACT - 9 Jan 2021 by CathB
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Cook, ACT - 9 Jan 2021 by CathB
Lipotriches sp. (genus) (Halictid bee) at Cook, ACT - 7 Jan 2021 by CathB
Tebenna micalis (Small Thistle Moth) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Scaptia sp. (genus) (March fly) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Chaetophyes compacta (Tube spittlebug) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Tiphiidae (family) (Unidentified Smooth flower wasp) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) bicingulatum (Halictid Bee) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Calperum ottei (A recently described pygmy cricket) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Nemophora (genus) (A Fairy Moth) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Orthorhinus cylindrirostris (Elephant Weevil) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Megachile lucidiventris (Resin bee, Megachilid bee) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Phlogistus sp. (genus) (Clerid beetle) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Stomorhina discolor (Snout fly) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Obrida fascialis (One banded longicorn) at Cook, ACT - 5 Jan 2021 by CathB
Eumeninae (subfamily) (Unidentified Potter wasp) at Cook, ACT - 3 Jan 2021 by CathB
Lipotriches (Austronomia) australica at Cook, ACT - 3 Jan 2021 by CathB
Castiarina crenata (Jewel beetle) at Cook, ACT - 3 Jan 2021 by CathB
Odontomyia hunteri (Soldier fly) at Cook, ACT - 3 Jan 2021 by CathB
Tebenna micalis (Small Thistle Moth) at Cook, ACT - 3 Jan 2021 by CathB
Lepturidea sp. (genus) (Comb-clawed beetle) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Comptosia sp. (genus) (Unidentified Comptosia bee fly) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Psilota sp. (genus) (Hover fly) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Eupoecila australasiae (Fiddler Beetle) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Conopidae (family) (Thick-headed fly) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Isodontia sp. (genus) (Unidentified Grass-carrying wasp) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Trachymela sp. (genus) (Brown button beetle) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Macrobathra (genus) (A cosmet moth) at Cook, ACT - 2 Jan 2021 by CathB
Pinara undescribed species near divisa at Cook, ACT - 30 Dec 2020 by CathB
Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth) at Cook, ACT - 29 Dec 2020 by drakes
Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla (Australian Blackthorn) at Cook, ACT - 29 Dec 2020 by drakes
Castiarina erythroptera (Lycid Mimic Jewel Beetle) at Cook, ACT - 26 Dec 2020 by CathB
Zenithicola crassus (Clerid beetle) at Cook, ACT - 26 Dec 2020 by CathB
Microvalgus sp. (genus) (Flower scarab) at Cook, ACT - 26 Dec 2020 by CathB
Mordella dumbrelli (Dumbrell's Pintail Beetle) at Cook, ACT - 26 Dec 2020 by CathB
Hoshihananomia leucosticta (Pintail or Tumbling flower beetle) at Cook, ACT - 26 Dec 2020 by CathB
Miltinus sp. (genus) (Miltinus mydas fly) at Cook, ACT - 24 Dec 2020 by CathB
Hestiochora furcata (A zygaenid moth) at Cook, ACT - 24 Dec 2020 by CathB
Ectenopsis sp. (March fly) at Cook, ACT - 23 Dec 2020 by CathB
Castiarina scalaris (Scalaris jewel beetle) at Cook, ACT - 23 Dec 2020 by CathB
Hestiochora furcata (A zygaenid moth) at Cook, ACT - 23 Dec 2020 by CathB
Neorrhina punctata (Spotted flower chafer) at Cook, ACT - 23 Dec 2020 by CathB
Nemophora (genus) (A Fairy Moth) at Cook, ACT - 23 Dec 2020 by CathB
Neodiaphanops sp. (Leaf beetle) at Cook, ACT - 23 Dec 2020 by CathB
Miltinus sp. (genus) (Miltinus mydas fly) at Cook, ACT - 22 Dec 2020 by CathB
Holoplatys sp. (genus) (Unidentified Holoplatys jumping spider) at Cook, ACT - 11 Dec 2020 by CathB
Backobourkia sp. (genus) (An orb weaver) at Cook, ACT - 11 Dec 2020 by CathB

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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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