Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
Calliptamus italicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a polyphagous grasshopper widely distributed from Europe to central Asia, known to perform long-range migrations during its gregarious phase, especially in the eastern part of its range. In the Alps, this species mostly occurs in dry grassland habitats in val...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University La Sapienza of Rome
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Fragmenta entomologica |
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| Online Access: | https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa02/fragmenta_entomologica/article/view/452 |
| _version_ | 1818216092256960512 |
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| author | Davide Giuliano |
| author_facet | Davide Giuliano |
| author_sort | Davide Giuliano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Calliptamus italicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a polyphagous grasshopper widely distributed from Europe to central Asia, known to perform long-range migrations during its gregarious phase, especially in the eastern part of its range. In the Alps, this species mostly occurs in dry grassland habitats in valley floors or on well-exposed slopes, usually establishing resident populations below 2000 m, but information on its dispersal patterns in this geographical area are still lacking. This short note reports an unusual observation of C. italicus at high eleva- tion (3050 m) in the Cottian Alps, with a description of the associated local habitat features and short-term weather conditions. Although based on a single record, hypotheses on the possible underlying dispersal processes are provided, discussing whether this observation may represent or not a first evidence of a migration behaviour by Italian locusts across the Alpine ridge. The performance of either a local movement or a long-range migration is firstly hypothesized, due to the apparent suitability of the short-term weather conditions (i.e. no rain, increase in temperatures and wind intensity). However, since the specimen was missing the left hind leg, thus potentially compro- mising its dispersal capacity, a third hypothesis of an animal- or human-mediated transport is also considered. Given that the available data are not sufficient to definitely ascertain whether C. italicus is able to disperse in autonomy across the Alps or not, further records are needed in future to verify the hypotheses presented here and to enhance the detail of the environmental variables possibly involved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:46:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20ba9087d3e5429b9ed6fd84a7613100 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0429-288X 2284-4880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:46:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | University La Sapienza of Rome |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fragmenta entomologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-20ba9087d3e5429b9ed6fd84a76131002022-12-22T00:34:11ZengUniversity La Sapienza of RomeFragmenta entomologica0429-288X2284-48802021-03-01531Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae)Davide Giuliano0Via Maestra Riva 162, 10064 Pinerolo (TO)Calliptamus italicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a polyphagous grasshopper widely distributed from Europe to central Asia, known to perform long-range migrations during its gregarious phase, especially in the eastern part of its range. In the Alps, this species mostly occurs in dry grassland habitats in valley floors or on well-exposed slopes, usually establishing resident populations below 2000 m, but information on its dispersal patterns in this geographical area are still lacking. This short note reports an unusual observation of C. italicus at high eleva- tion (3050 m) in the Cottian Alps, with a description of the associated local habitat features and short-term weather conditions. Although based on a single record, hypotheses on the possible underlying dispersal processes are provided, discussing whether this observation may represent or not a first evidence of a migration behaviour by Italian locusts across the Alpine ridge. The performance of either a local movement or a long-range migration is firstly hypothesized, due to the apparent suitability of the short-term weather conditions (i.e. no rain, increase in temperatures and wind intensity). However, since the specimen was missing the left hind leg, thus potentially compro- mising its dispersal capacity, a third hypothesis of an animal- or human-mediated transport is also considered. Given that the available data are not sufficient to definitely ascertain whether C. italicus is able to disperse in autonomy across the Alps or not, further records are needed in future to verify the hypotheses presented here and to enhance the detail of the environmental variables possibly involved.https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa02/fragmenta_entomologica/article/view/452Italian locustlocal movementsmigrationpassive transportweather conditionsCottian Alps |
| spellingShingle | Davide Giuliano Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Fragmenta entomologica Italian locust local movements migration passive transport weather conditions Cottian Alps |
| title | Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |
| title_full | Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |
| title_fullStr | Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |
| title_short | Calliptamus italicus at 3050 m: a first evidence of dispersal across the Alps? (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |
| title_sort | calliptamus italicus at 3050 m a first evidence of dispersal across the alps orthoptera acrididae |
| topic | Italian locust local movements migration passive transport weather conditions Cottian Alps |
| url | https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa02/fragmenta_entomologica/article/view/452 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidegiuliano calliptamusitalicusat3050mafirstevidenceofdispersalacrossthealpsorthopteraacrididae |