Greece is a European hotspot for Orthoptera (378 species), yet it has been scarcely explored. We investigated the distribution and habitat preferences of the species of two endemic Orthoptera genera, Parnassiana and Oropodisma, in the montane ecosystems of central Greece. We conducted field surveys from 2021 to 2024 in 174 sites across seven mountains. The species of both genera preferred habitats above 1500 m, with species-specific preferences for microhabitat parameters: Parnassiana species favored moderate slopes with dense shrub cover, while Oropodisma species favored substrates with intermediate stone cover and relatively high vegetation cover. Species distribution models estimated the area of suitable habitat for Parnassiana to be at 5 km² and Oropodisma at 3.28 km². The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and potential evapotranspiration were the key environmental drivers of the habitat suitability for both genera. Generalized regression models showed that altitude positively influenced Parnassiana population density, peaking at 2200 m, whereas rock and soil cover negatively impacted Oropodisma population densities. The results emphasize the critical role of montane habitats in sustaining these species and provide essential data for future research and conservation strategies.

Orthoptera species are vulnerable to extinction on a global scale. Greece hosts 35% (380 species) of the European Orthoptera fauna with a high degree of endemic (37%) and threatened species (37%). We sampled 46 plots (100 m²) to investigate the distribution and ecological requirement of two Greek mountain endemic and red‐listed species: Parnassiana parnassica (Ramme, 1926; Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae; Critically Endangered [CR]) and Oropodisma parnassica (Scudder, 1897; Orthoptera: Caelifera; Endangered [EN]). Species had a restricted geographical range, with two isolated populations confined to high altitudes (1527–2320 m) of Mts. Parnassos and Elikonas. Species distribution models showed that slope affected their suitable habitat, together with the topographic position index and the annual temperature range (P. parnassica), and the amount of green vegetation and evapotranspiration (O. parnassica). Connectivity analysis showed that P. parnassica‐suitable habitat consisted of few larger and well‐connected patches (26 patches: effective mesh size of 1.57 km²) and that O. parnassica‐suitable habitat consisted of more but smaller and less connected patches (56 patches: effective mesh size of 0.3 km²). Generalised linear models showed that the population density of P. parnassica was negatively influenced by the height of herbaceous vegetation and that of O. parnassica was positively influenced by altitude. The species face three main imminent threats: land take, wildfires and global warming, whereas livestock grazing seems to have a positive impact and skiing a neutral impact on their populations. We assessed both species as EN after International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria and a suite of conservation measures are suggested for their status improvement.

Greece is a European hotspot for Orthoptera (378 species), yet it has been scarcely explored. We investigated the diversity patterns of Orthoptera and the ecological mechanisms shaping them by sampling 15 sites (30 plots of 1ha) across five habitats in Mount Mitsikeli, a Natura 2000 site. The mountain is deemed rich (0.4 species/km²), hosting 34 species, including a species of European interest (Paracaloptenus caloptenoides). The grassy openings in the beech–fir forest and rural mosaics were found to be important habitats for Orthoptera, while the mountain grasslands were poorer but hosted a greater abundance of grasshoppers. The three main environmental factors shaping diversity patterns (with an explained variance of 51.34%) were grass height, the cover of woody vegetation and the cover of bare ground. Beta diversity was high (with a Bray–Curtis of index 0.45 among habitats). Species turnover prevailed among all sites and within agricultural land, beech–fir forest and Mediterranean scrub, while nested patterns prevailed within mountain grasslands and mixed thermophilous forest. Conservation actions should target sites in ecosystems driven by species turnover, but primarily the most species-rich sites are driven by nestedness. Such actions should include the implementation of biodiversity-inclusive grazing schemes to hamper forest encroachment and the restoration of mountain grassland quality from cattle overgrazing.

The REPowerEU Plan calls for a massive speed-up of renewable energy, which can undermine nature conservation. We explored the impact of an industrial-scale wind power project planned inside a Natura 2000 site (Special Protected Areas for birds) in the mountains of Central Evvoia, in Greece. If approved, the project could cause significant land artificialization, land take, and habitat fragmentation, having a land take intensity of 4.5 m²/MWh. An important part of forested land (14%) would be artificialized. The wilderness character would sharply decline from 49% to 4%, with a large roadless area (51.4 km²) shrinking by 77% and a smaller one (16.1 km²) lost. The project greatly overlaps with the Natura 2000 network (97%), a regional Key Biodiversity Area and Important Bird Area (84%), and a potential Global Key Biodiversity Area (27%). It might affect 23 globally threatened and 44 endemic species. This case study is a typical example of the poor implementation of the Natura 2000 and EIA legislation and highlights their recurring inability to prevent harmful human activities across Europe from affecting protected species of European interest and ecosystem functions. We conclude with policy recommendations to help increase renewables’ sustainability and minimize land artificialization in the EU.

Renewable energy expansion is essential for achieving climate goals but threatens biodiversity without proper spatial planning. This study assesses the impacts of renewables on threatened Orthoptera fauna and suggests mitigation solutions. Using geospatial analysis and habitat connectivity metrics, we quantified the impacts of wind power stations on three globally threatened and endemic Orthoptera species. Parnassiana tymphrestos , Parnassiana coracis and Oropodisma willemsei are projected to lose 9.1%, 6.6% and 4.3% of their total suitable habitat, respectively. Local impacts can be severe, with habitat loss (11–49%), reduced connectivity (12–99%), and population declines (12–53%). Population on Mt Oxia will be at risk of local extinction. Nationally, 62% of the distribution of threatened Orthoptera already overlaps with RES infrastructure (mainly wind and solar), and this figure is projected to rise to 79%. Mountains and islands, key centers of endemism, are disproportionately affected: 26% of wind energy is planned for mountainous areas (12% of Greece: >1000 m), and 35% for islands (19% of Greece), threatening narrowly distributed species. We applied a sustainable spatial planning scenario that excludes Natura 2000 sites, low-fragmentation zones, and roadless islands and roadless areas larger than 5 km². This approach fully protects the habitats of the three target species, exceeds the 2050 national wind energy target (13 GW) by 30%, and reduces the overlap between wind facilities and threatened species distributions by 0.9% (± 2.1%). Our findings highlight the urgent need for biodiversity-inclusive energy planning to prevent local extinctions while meeting climate goals, offering a scalable model for biodiversity hotspots globally.

A new species of Rhacocleis, R. parnassica sp.nov. is described. We discovered the species on scree slopes at 1450 m on Mt. Parnassos, central Greece. This bush-cricket is morphologically distinct from all congeners, particularly in male cercal and titillator structures, and differs bioacoustically from closely related taxa. Although superficially resembling the scree-dwelling R. crypta and R. lithoscirtetes, it shows greater morphological affinity with R. distinguenda and R. werneri, and acoustic similarity with R. germanica and R. annulata. The species is currently known only from its type locality within the Natura 2000 site GR2450005. Its restricted range and potential exposure to wildfire and human disturbance highlight the need for further ecological research and conservation assessments. This discovery increases the number of Rhacocleis species in Greece to 17, underscoring the country’s exceptional Orthoptera diversity and the potential for additional undescribed taxa in poorly explored environments.