Acheta domesticus Fabricius 1775

Acheta cf. A. domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Figs 132, 133 Diagnostic notes. Since only three female specimens are known, this taxon’s identification on Socotra is uncertain. They are referred to here as Acheta cf. A. domesticus. Proper identification should be done, based on males’ genitalia and bioacoustics. Acheta domesticus is a medium-sized, yellowish-light brown cricket. In males, the tegmina cover two-thirds of the abdomen and contain four harp veins. The head is yellowish-brown, with two broad dark bands, one on the occiput and one between the eyes. Frons and clypeus are dark with a light central mushroom-shaped marking on the frons. The pronotum has a characteristic pattern of three dark triangular markings; sometimes, the two lateral ones are divided, resulting in five spots. Distribution and occurrence. Acheta domesticus is a synanthrope species with a worldwide distribution nowadays. Its original distribution area was presumably comprised of northern Africa, southern Europe and southwest Asia, which is comparable to other members of the genus (Gorochov and Llorente 2001). On Socotra, only three recent records of this presumed species are known, two in the southern coastal area and one in Wadi Ayhaft (Fig. 133). Habitat and biology. One of the two specimens was found in a palm grove near a village and the other was found in a wadi, far from any urbanisation. Records are from April and October. Bioacoustics. The song of Acheta domesticus is well known and consists of a repetition of short echemes (e. g. Baudewijn Odé, XC 446402, accessible at https://www.xeno-canto.org/446402).