Over the past few decades, Lithuania’s insect population has been joined by a number of new species migrating from Central and even Southern Europe – a clear sign of a warming climate. One of the latest arrivals is the Meconema meridionale cricket, according to the Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum in Kaunas.
Native to the Mediterranean region and southeastern Europe – from southern France to Bulgaria – Meconema meridionale has gradually spread across much of the continent. The northernmost records so far come from Scandinavia, including Sweden and Norway.
In Lithuania, the species was first recorded in 2020. Since then, 12 sightings have been confirmed. All have been in urban environments – nine in Vilnius, one in Palanga, one in Nida, and most recently, one discovered in Kaunas this year by museum entomologists.
The tendency for these crickets to settle in cities has been observed across their range. Scientists believe this is because the warmth-loving species seeks out higher temperatures, which are typically a few degrees warmer in urban areas. The insects are often seen on building walls, pavements, or even found indoors.
A predatory species, Meconema meridionale lives in trees and feeds on small insects and larvae such as aphids and caterpillars. The females lay their eggs in the crevices of tree bark. Adult crickets can be spotted from mid-July until October or November, disappearing with the first heavy frosts.
In Lithuania, the new arrival has a close relative – the Meconema thalassinum or Drumming Katydid – but unlike its winged cousin, M. meridionale cannot fly. Consequently, scientists believe the species is spreading with human help, hitching rides in vehicles, ships and trains.
In 2016, M. meridionale was even found in the US state of Washington – meaning the flightless, 11–15 millimetre-long insect has somehow managed to cross the Atlantic.
There are around 30,000 known species of cricket worldwide, but only 14 have been recorded in Lithuania.
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