Chorthippus apricarius (Linnaeus, 1758)

Nutrition:
Grasses (Poaceae).

Habitat:
Chorthippus apricarius requires a juxtaposition of somewhat higher growing grasslands and at least small gappy areas with open soil. This can be realized in different locations. In Germany Chorthippus apricarius prefers border strips to extensive fields. In the Swiss Engadine, I met Chorthippus apricarius on grass- and herb-rich scarps with open soil and some shrubs between nutrient-poor meadows. In Southern Europe and the Southern Alps, Chorthippus apricarius can be found up to over 2000m above sea level on grassy and sometimes also stony slopes.

Life cycle:
The adults appear from late June to October, and the eggs are laid in open ground, such as old ant hills.

Endangerment: strongly endangered

Endangerment factors:
In Germany Chorthippus apricarius has strongly declined in many areas and is already extinct in most of the former habitats, for example in most parts of Baden-Württemberg. Chorthippus apricarius is still more common only in a few regions as in northeast Germany and the Swiss Grisons. The cause is the over-fertilization and intensive use of arable land as well as the eutrophication and eradication of all kinds of fallow strips.

In southern Europe the situation is still better.

Remarks:
Chorthippus apricarius occurs from the Pyrenees across Southern France, central and southeastern Europa to northern China. Isolated populations are reported from northwestern Spain, Central Italy and northern France.