INSECTS

ORTHOPTERA / GRASSHOPPERS

Field Grasshopper has sharply incurved pronotal side-keels, a noticeably hairy lower body and wings that extend beyond the hind-knees. There are various forms; normally brownish with striped and mottled varieties, and body parts ranging from buff, orange and purple. They stridulate making short, brisk chirps repeated at short intervals. Field Grasshoppers have a preference for dry, sunny locations with short vegetation. Eggs are laid in soil with nymphs hatching from late March. Adults appear from June and may persist until November.

Meadow Grasshopper has slightly incurved pronotal side-keels and black knees. The body can be green-coloured or sometimes entirely brown, the wings are often brown too. Males are long-winged, whereas females are normally short-winged, although a fully winged form does occur (f. explicatus). Some females are pinkish purple. This species inhabits long grass locations and woodland rides. Females lay eggs just below the soil surface and the nymphs emerge during April. Adults appear by June and may presist until November. Their song is a fast irregular buzz, repeated at varying intervals.

Common Green Grasshopper is the loudest British grasshopper. Nymphs appear from late April and adults are seen from July until November. This species has a preference for long grass in damp locations. It is green or green and brown, and never has red or orange on the abdomen. Females are always green dorsally and green, brown or purple elsewhere. There are gently incurved side-keels on the pronotum. Palps may be pale but never chalk white. Wings of females do not normally extend beyond the end of the body unlike those of males.

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