About Sepiana sepium (Yersin, 1854)
Sepiana sepium can reach a total body length of 20–27 millimetres (0.79–1.06 inches), and its ovipositor reaches 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 inches). These bush crickets have very long, enlarged hind legs, with small spines on the lower segments of these legs. The base body colour ranges from gray-brown to reddish. The sides of the pronotum are almost triangular, usually black or dark brown, and are clearly outlined by a bright longitudinal line. The head is usually reddish, with a dark patch above the eyes that is crossed by a whitish line. The legs are dark brown or dark gray, with a dark brown stripe present on the hind legs. Male Sepiana sepium have flattened cerci, while females have a pair of cusps on the 6th and 7th abdominal segments. This species is quite similar in appearance to Metrioptera roeselii. Like other species in the genus Platycleis, Sepiana sepium has the largest testicles relative to body mass of any recorded animal. This widespread species is found from southwestern to southeastern Europe, and also occurs in the Near East. Its range extends from Portugal and Spain, southern France, Italy, and the Balkan Peninsula along the Black Sea to Turkey and southwestern Russia. These bush crickets typically live in areas that are not excessively xerothermic, including forest edges, bushland, and grassy meadows.
