Short-horned grasshopper - Short-horned grasshopper

An insect belonging to the family Acrididae in the order Orthoptera of the class Insecta. It has a long, slender body with a long, triangular head, flat antennae at the tip of the head, and sharp forewings. Its hind legs are long, and females are quite large. It was named Hataori because it is often seen around the time of Obon (Seirei-e) in the lunar calendar, but in some areas it is called Hataori, which resembles the movement of a loom when it holds its hind legs and bounces like a spring. The body length is about 40 mm for males and about 80 mm for females. There are various color types, such as green, brown, and types with white-brown markings on the forewings. They become adults from summer to autumn, and are often found in plain grasslands. When flying, males beat their forewings together to make a "chi-chi-chi-chi" sound. Due to this behavior, it was also called Kichikichibatta, but since the Short-Ryo Batta-modoki was also called by this name, it is no longer used to avoid misuse. It is distributed throughout Japan, as well as the Korean Peninsula, China, Mongolia, Taiwan, etc.

[Yamazaki Egane]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱直翅(ちょくし)目バッタ科に属する昆虫。長三角錐(すい)状に突き出る頭部、その先端につく剣状で平たい触角をもち、前翅の先端がとがる細長い体のバッタ。後脚(こうきゃく)は長く、雌ではかなり大形になる。旧暦のお盆（精霊会）のころによくみられるのでこの名を得たが、地方によっては、後脚をもったとき関節をばねのようにして跳ねる動作から、織機の動作になぞらえてハタオリとよぶ所も多い。体長は雄40ミリメートル内外、雌80ミリメートル内外。緑色型、褐色型、前翅に白褐紋の入った型などの色彩型がある。夏から秋にかけ成虫となり、平地の草原に多い。雄は飛ぶとき、前・後翅を打ち合わせてキチキチキチという音を出す。この行動からキチキチバッタの名もあったが、ショウリョウバッタモドキもこの名でよばれたことがあったので、現在では誤用を避けて用いない。日本全土をはじめ、朝鮮半島、中国、モンゴル、台湾などに分布する。

［山崎柄根］

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