Geographical distribution and habitat segregation of bushcrickets (Orthoptera : Tettigoniidae in Israel

Long-homed bushcrickets (Tettigoniidae) have been studied intensively in Is rael for four decades. Forty-two species belonging to twenty-two genera hav e been recorded. This article reviews their biology and analyzes the geogra phical distribution and the species associations with plant communities of the five phytogeographical provinces represented in Israel. The majority of the species are associated with the Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian flora , with a few species each associated with the Tragacant, Saharo-Sindian, an d Ethiopian flora. A high proportion (about 50%) of endemism, associated wi th a high proportion of brachypterous species, was found in the first three groups but not in the last two groups. Despite a general association with specific plant communities, no distinct relation between species distributi on and precipitation levels was found. However, within the Mediterranean an d Irano-Turanian groups, there is a distinct segregation of species with si milar morphology between bush-forest and shrub-grassland habitats. It is su ggested that "apparent competition" (reciprocal negative interactions betwe en species due to shared predators) may serve as the mechanism that drives this habitat segregation.