Calliptamus barbarus (Costa, 1836)

Nutrition:
The animals feed on grasses and herbs, and - sometimes - dead animals like other insects.

Habitat:
Calliptamus barbarus colonizes steep, stony steppe-like or rocky slopes, garigues and similar xerothermic areas. Calliptamus barbarus is often very abundant in S-Europe.

Life cycle:
The adults occur from June to October (in the south already from April) and focus on open ground sites, even on pine needle litter on the edge of the rocky habitats.

Endangerment factors:
In Central Europe Calliptamus barbarus has high requirements on its habitat and is therefore very vulnerable there. In the South Calliptamus barbarus is widespread and not endangered.

Remarks:
The Southern European species (in total from N-Africa to Central Asia) occurs in Central Europe only a few places, so at the southern edge of the Swiss Jura, near Biel.