On the recent occurrence of Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefebvre, 1827) (Orthoptera – Gryllidae) on Lampedusa

Abstract

Considering the species’ distribution, it is of particular interest that until four male specimens were recorded during the first half of April 2014, this species was unknown from Lampedusa, as attested by both scientific workers familiar with the Orthoptero-fauna of the islet and local farmers (PRAZZI et al.,2014). The authors note that in the days prior to these discoveries, strong winds were blowing that could have aided dispersal of the individuals from the Tunisian coast some 140 km away or from Lino-sa, some 45 km away; no indication of wind speeds is given in the said short note. The authors however acknowledge that this species is not known to take to the wing and cover such considerable distances. Another manner by which the species may have found itself on Lampedusa, according to the authors, is via passive dispersal, primarily on ferries or even immigrant boats that sailed to Lampedusa from coastal locations where the cricket maintains a population. The authors draw an analogy with the Gregarious Locust (Schistocera gregaria) migration of November 2012, when numerous locusts were observed on Lampedusa, in both rural and urban areas (PRAZZIet al., 2014).