Spiked Magician

Todd Sain Sr.

9 months ago

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Spiked Magician Facts

The attention-grabbing term of Spiked Magician serves as the most frequently used common name for this intriguing insect. The creature does have at least one other general title, though. That’s the surprising appellation of Predatory Bush Cricket.
Inside of scientific circles, though, it’s perhaps better known by its formal moniker. Thankfully, that’s a much easier designation for the average layperson to pronounce than most. That’s because the invertebrate holds the formal epithet of Saga pedo.
It received that simple label due to the efforts of Peter Simon Pallas. The highly respected Prussian zoologist accomplished the first formal acknowledgement of it as a separate and distinct species. He managed that scientifically noteworthy deed in 1771.
Sadly, the population base of the Spiked Magician appears to be dwindling. That unfortunate situation additionally seems to hold true throughout the entirety of its range. The IUCN therefore presently lists the creature as Vulnerable on its Red List.
It now faces multiple threats to its continued existence as a species. Like many, most of these stem from the actions of mankind. Its perils include habitat loss and the dangers of pesticide use. It must also now deal with the ongoing effects of climate change.

Rainbow Grasshopper

Lichen Katydid

Desert Locust

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Spiked Magician Physical Description

The Spiked Magician immediately captures the attention of those fortunate enough to encounter it in the wild. Yet it does so for several reasons. It has a noteworthy appearance, to be sure. But it’s likely best known for the sheer size that individuals of the species reach.

Unlike many types of insects, though, it displays no noticeable degree of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. Distinguishing the genders with only a casual observation thus frequently challenges all but the most experienced observers of the species.

Specimens of both sexes of the species usually attain an impressive overall length that measures approximately 4.1 in (10.5 cm). That alone makes it one of the longest members of its Order on earth. Yet exceptional examples sometimes reach lengths of 4.7 in (12 cm).

These measurements include the ovipositor, though, of course. The head and body length itself typically measures a mean stretch of 2.0 – 2.8 in (5 – 7 cm). Those exceptional individuals mentioned previously, meanwhile, sometimes reach 3.1 in (7.8 cm) in this regard.

In coloring, the marvelous Spiked Magician generally presents various combinations of different shades of brown and green. This combination usually presents as slightly darker on the upper side, and lighter on the under side. These creatures also possess no wings.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Saga
Species: S. pedo

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Spiked Magician Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The amazing Spiked Magician evolved as native to a considerable expanse of the globe. The full extent and nature of that zone of habitation might surprise some people, though. That’s true since it developed as endemic to roughly half of Europe and west and central Asia.

In Europe, it appears as far south as northern Greece, Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula. Northerly, it shows up as far as Ukraine and Slovakia. To the west, it lives in such countries as Switzerland and France. The insect does not, however, live north of the Alpine region.

Meanwhile, in Asia, the intrepid invertebrate makes its home as far south as southern sections of several countries. These locations include Armenia, Anatolia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, among others. Yet it also ranges as far north as Kurgan Oblast, in Russia.

Fortunately, this creation of Nature displays a moderate degree of adaptability in terms of its habitat preferences. Due to this flexibility, it makes its presence known within several different, albeit related, types of ecosystems. That’s a definite evolutionary advantage.

The Arthropod primarily dwells in one of three types of grassland biomes. Semi-natural dry grasslands with a chalky nature comprise one. Pseudo-steppe grasslands with the presence of dry grasses is another. The last one consists of similar areas in sub-Mediterranean areas.

The Spiked Magician distinguishes itself from its kindred in yet another manner. While grasshoppers developed as herbivores, this one feeds carnivorously! It mainly preys on other grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts. It nevertheless consumes others, as well.

These other victims of its appetite include various types of similarly sized insects. Incredibly, these sometimes even include the usually deadly mantises, such as the European Mantis. On occasion, this extraordinary Orthoptera sometimes even consumes small lizards.

Though technically active throughout the day, it’s principally so during the period of and around dusk. Its this period that represents its preferred hunting time. Its own natural predators understandably include many birds, frogs, toads, larger lizards, and rodents.