To establish an identification key for the European species of Orthoptera, during the study work on three project lines was performed and combined:
A database covering all species of European Orthoptera and containing informations concerning their taxonomy, distribution, sound signals, economic importance and conservation status was established. On field expeditions, new informations about poorly known or taxonomically difficult species were collected. During the summer seasons 12500 specimens belonging to about 400 species were collected and sound signals of about 150 species recorded. The sound recordings collected during the field studies were analysed and prepared for detailed comparisons. In addition, the sound signal recordings available at the Zoological Institute of RAN (Petersburg) and the Zoological Museum and Department of Entmology of Moscow State University were also analysed.
As a result of the comparative taxonomic and acoustic studies some new data have been obtaineed as follows: (i) the identity of many species occurring in Western and Eastern Europe have been established; (ii) the taxonomic status of some Eastern European species was verified and corrected; (iii) some sibling species were distinguished; (iv) the distribution of many "Western European species" in Eastern Europe was examined and eastern boundary of thier region was outlined.
The main result of comparative works of contractors is the first full Identification Key of European Orthoptera, which was completed in June of 1988. It includes: key to determination of two suborders, 6 superfamilies, 14 families, 200 genera and 989 species ( Tettigonioidea: 458, Rhaphidophoroidea: 45, Grylloidea: 91, Tetrugoidea: 12, Tridactyloidea: 6, Acridoidea: 277). For all species information about distribution and for most of them bioacoustic data are given.
