common fleabane vs Common Mountain Bush-cricket

Pulicaria dysenterica compared with Antaxius pedestris

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common fleabane	Common Mountain Bush-cricket
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Orthoptera (Orthoptera)
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Tettigoniidae
Genus	Pulicaria	Antaxius
Species	Pulicaria dysenterica	Antaxius pedestris

Conservation Status

common fleabane

LC — Least Concern

Common Mountain Bush-cricket

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common fleabane	Common Mountain Bush-cricket
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

common fleabane

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (United States).

Common Mountain Bush-cricket

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

common fleabane

<em>Pulicaria dysenterica</em> is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Asteraceae within the order Asterales. Commonly known as common fleabane or elecampane, this species typically colonizes damp, disturbed habitats including marshes, riverbanks, roadsides, and wet meadows. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating stable and widespread populations. <em>Pulicaria dysenterica</em> is native to Europe and also occurs in the United States. The plant typically produces branching, woolly-stemmed growth reaching up to 60 centimeters in height, bearing yellow daisy-like flowerheads from mid to late summer that attract a range of pollinating insects. Its leaves are clasping and softly hairy, a characteristic that gives the plant a distinctly woolly appearance. Historically, the species was used in traditional medicine and as an insect repellent, with the common name reflecting both its reputed medicinal properties and the flea-deterring use of its dried foliage. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Common Mountain Bush-cricket

The Common Mountain Bush-cricket (<em>Antaxius pedestris</em>) is an insect in the genus <em>Antaxius</em>, belonging to the family Tettigoniidae within the order Orthoptera. This species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, suggesting its populations are currently stable. It is typically found across virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats within its range. As a bush-cricket, <em>Antaxius pedestris</em> belongs to a group characterized by long antennae, typically exceeding body length, and the ability to produce sound through stridulation — rubbing the wings together. Bush-crickets are generally omnivorous, feeding on plant material, small invertebrates, and occasionally other insects. The "mountain" designation in its common name reflects an association with elevated, rocky or montane habitats, which are typical for members of this genus in Europe. Detailed biological traits such as average lifespan, body dimensions, and weight are not widely documented for this species in available records. Further taxonomic and ecological research may better define the full distribution and habitat preferences of this species.