A rare Amazon grasshopper, which is on the brink of extinction, has been discovered in the Carpathian region
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, naturalists have recorded the steppe ground beetle—one of Ukraine’s rarest insects and a species listed in the Red Book—three times over the past two months.
This species is considered one of the largest among orthopterans in Europe and can reach 9 centimeters in length. The grasshopper has no wings and cannot fly, but thanks to its green coloration, it blends in perfectly with the grass.
A distinctive feature of the species is that its population consists exclusively of females. The insect reproduces without males—through parthenogenesis.
Unlike most grasshoppers, the steppe grasshopper is a predator. It hunts locusts, beetles, and other insects, lying in wait for prey in dense vegetation.
Due to the plowing of the steppes, the use of pesticides, and other human activities, the species is rapidly declining. In western Ukraine, the steppe grasshopper has been recorded only in Bukovina, aside from the Carpathian region.
Source: Galician National Nature Park.
In Italy, during the construction of a highway, workers stumbled upon the remains of an ancient sanctuary dating back to the 5th century BCE. The unique discovery was made near the town of Pons, located approximately 72 kilometers from Venice. After the artifacts were discovered, large-scale archaeological excavations began immediately at the site.
