Originally found in small pockets of Małopolska in the south, close to the German border in the north and close to Lublin in eastern Poland, large numbers of the saddle-backed cricket have now been spotted in forests close to the capital Warsaw.

Known for its unique sounds which sound like the rapid clicking of a loaded weapon or even a cough, its bizarre appearance—green body, red “saddle,” long legs, and antennae—gives it an otherworldly look.

This has led to some describing it as looking like an “alien”.

The insect was first regarded in Poland as an endangered species, even being listed as vulnerable in Poland’s "Red List of Endangered and Threatened Animals." However, the species is speedily establishing itself as a permanent resident in the country’s forests.

Obcy są już wśród nas. Na pewno. Nie mamy wątpliwości. Oto siodlarka stepowa z rodziny pasikonikowatych. Pomijając kwestię jej instrumentu, posłuchajcie jak gra 👉🔊

🎥 Jakub Błędowski#NadleśnictwoGarwolin #Facebook pic.twitter.com/E591ns3yWI

— Lasy Polskie (@LPolskie1924) September 4, 2024

Experts believe its arrival is linked to increasingly warm summers in Poland; however, the exact mechanism behind its rapid spread remains unclear.