Oedipoda cynthiae Fontana, Buzzetti & Massa, 2019

Habitat:
Oedipoda cynthiae inhabits hot and dry steppes in Apulia, especially the so-called Murge. It needs low-growing and gappy vegetation, but obviously no stones which is in contrast to the often syntopic Oedipoda germanica.

Life cycle:
The adults appear in summer and autumn. Even within the Murge they are found only very locally.

Endangerment factors:
Oedipoda cynthiae is threatened by extinction. Most parts of Apulia have already fallen victim to intense agriculture or have been overbuilt. The Murge is almost only preserved in the Alta Murge national park. But also there the habitat is changing, mostly due to abandonment of former extensively grazing. I found Oedipoda cynthiae only in moderately grazed areas.

Remarks:
Oedipoda cynthiae is closely related to O. charpentieri and O. miniata, but is separated by morphological and ecological features. It is known only from Apulia, from Gargano southeastwards.

Literature:
Fontana, P., F. Buzzetti & B. Massa (2019): A new rare species of Oedipoda Latreille, 1829 (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from South Italy.- Zootaxa 4614: 50-60.