About Svercus palmetorum (Krauss, 1902)
Adult males of Svercus palmetorum reach a length of 10.9–13.6 millimetres (0.43–0.54 inches), while adult females reach 11.5–13 millimetres (0.45–0.51 inches). This species has an overall blackish coloration, with a whitish band on the forehead. In both sexes, hind wings are reduced, and the fore wings cover almost the entire abdomen.
Svercus palmetorum resembles Modicogryllus algirius, but it is larger. It can be easily distinguished from Modicogryllus algirius by its shorter wings, the shape of its male genitalia, and its characteristic song: restless, melodious, sharp, and produced at a frenzied rhythm of up to 150 syllables per second.
Two subspecies of Svercus palmetorum are recognized. The nominate subspecies, Svercus palmetorum palmetorum, is widespread across North Africa, Southwestern Asia, Cyprus, and Malta. In Italy, it has been observed in Sardinia, Sicily, and Calabria, and it may also occur in Corsica. The second subspecies, Svercus palmetorum geonomes (Otte & Cade, 1984), inhabits Southern Africa and Madagascar.
