Saddle-backed bush cricket

The saddle-backed bush cricket (lat. Ephippiger) is a member of the Tettigoniidae family within the order Orthoptera. This insect is easily identified by its unique, saddle-shaped pronotum covering the thorax. In agricultural settings, they are considered occasional pests that can cause localized but significant damage to various types of foliage and crops when populations surge.

These insects are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of plant species. Their preferred hosts include grapevines, various fruit trees, berry bushes, and field crops such as sunflowers and maize. By consuming leaves, flowers, and developing fruits, they can impact both the quality and quantity of the harvest, making them a concern for orchard and field managers.

The life cycle of the saddle-backed bush cricket follows a hemimetabolous pattern, consisting of the egg, nymph, and adult stages. Eggs are deposited in soil or plant debris, where they overwinter to survive cold temperatures. After hatching in the spring, nymphs pass through several instars, feeding voraciously throughout the growth season until they reach sexual maturity.

Damage caused by these crickets is primarily mechanical, characterized by ragged edges on leaves and holes in tender shoots. Severe infestations can result in partial defoliation of plants, which weakens their overall structure and reduces fruit-bearing potential. Because they are often active during the night and hide in dense vegetation during the day, damage is sometimes detected only after significant loss has occurred.

Management strategies focus on reducing the population before it reaches damaging levels. Preventive measures include cultivating the soil to destroy overwintering egg sites and removing weeds that serve as alternative hosts. If populations reach an economic threshold, targeted insecticide applications are recommended. Biological control through the preservation of natural predators like birds and spiders can also assist in maintaining balance.