Oedipoda venusta Fieber, 1853

Habitat:
Oedipoda venusta inhabits most often rocky habitats both in very open woodland and on open treeless slopes. I recorded it on limestone.

Life cycle:
The adults appear between summer and autumn (at least until early November). They are active only in sunshine (at least in autumn), more than it is the case in syntopical Oedipoda caerulescens. The animals are strong fliers, e.g. on vertical cliffs.

Remarks:
Oedipoda venusta is endemic to the southern Greek islands Crete and Karpathos. In Crete, it is much more local than the ubiquitous Oedipoda caerulescens. I found it around the Lefka Ori, to the east over Imbros to the region Dasos Asfendou Kallikrati. In these regions it may be widespread and even abundant. It is usually syntopic with its congener O. caerulescens, but easily recognizable by its more slender shape 8belongs to the O. germanica species group) and especially the yellowish to slightly turquoise hind wings. Oedipoda venusta is also known from other mountain ranges in Crete, e.g. the Dikti mountains in the east.