By Francesco Tomasinelli

Updated 05/08/2006 

Considered one of the biggest insects in Europe, if not the biggest (12 cm total lenght!), the Saga pedo (Pallas, 1771) is one of the rarest too. Although counted in many southern european countries it presents a very scattered distribution and has been considered very vulnerable by IUCN commission which included it in the protected species list for the European Community since 2000 (www.redlist.org)

Every single feature of this insect is weird and interesting. It’s a grasshopper (order Orthoptera, family Tettigonidae, subfamily Saginae) but it’s completely carnivorous, just like a praying mantis! It ambush other insects, especially crickets and other hoppers, among grass and bushes of the few dry scrublands where he lives. It seems very letargic until the very last moment, when the prey come close and is suddenly seized by the deadly hug of the first two pairs of legs adorned with strong thorns

Saga pedo is a precocious species too and reach maturity before other othopteroids, preying on them extensively. It’s possible to find adult individuals in july. Saga pedo is parthenogenetic, and is therefore able to produce offspring without any fecundation. Only one male was found so far, in 2006 in Switzerland. Eggs are planted deep in the soil using the long sabre-like ovopositor in late summer.

The pictures you see here are taken in out-of-the way locations in natural parks in Provence (Southern France), Piemonte and Liguria (Italy). Many thanks to Fabio De Vita, Renato Cottalasso and Pierre Jean Bernard for their precious help and advices.