Wart-biter
Decticus verrucivorus
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
51
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wart-biter
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Orthoptera
Family
Tettigoniidae
Genus
Decticus
Wart-biter belongs to the family Tettigoniidae, order Orthoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Wart-biter cricket faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and the abandonment of traditional low-intensity grazing practices have eliminated much of the species' required habitat. Climate change and altered fire regimes further threaten remaining populations in this already restricted range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dry, short-grass calcareous grasslands, chalk downs, and limestone pavements with sparse vegetation and bare ground patches. Requires warm, south-facing slopes with traditional extensive grazing or mowing regimes that maintain the open, species-rich grassland structure.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Wart-biter cricket faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and the abandonment of traditional low-intensity grazing practices have eliminated much of the species' required habitat. Climate change and altered fire regimes further threaten remaining populations in this already restricted range.
Abandonment of traditional extensive grazing practices
Climate change altering suitable habitat conditions
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Altered fire regimes and vegetation succession
Found in 51 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Wart-biter (Decticus verrucivorus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/wart-biter