grasshoppers, crickets

Chorthippus brunneus (15-25 mm) Common field grasshopper Usually brown but green, reddish and grey varieties exist. There is a short bulge at the front end of the forewing. Hairy below the thorax. Black marks between the keels do not reach the the rear edge of the pronotum. Found June to October in dry grassland. Song consists of 6-10 short chirrups. Widespread and common. Images taken at Arne RSPB reserve, near Wareham, Dorset . ID confirmed by Paul Veenvliet on the UK-Grasshoppers-Crickets yahoo newsgroup, 8th Jan 2006 . Images of a female and nymphs.

Omocestus viridulus (15-25 mm) Common green grasshopper Grey, green or brown varieties exist. Female is always green on top. Short keel on top of head. Abdomen is yellowish-green below. Forewing is usually dark tipped. Song is a hiss that fluctuates for 10-20 secs gradually increasing in volume - reaches full volume halfway through. Present from July to October in lush grassland. Widespread and common. Image taken at Martin Down, near Salisbury, Wiltshire . ID confirmed by Paul Veenvliet onn the UK-Grasshoppers-Crickets yahoo newsgroup, 8th Jan 2006 .

Omocestus rufipes (12-20 mm) Woodland grasshopper Generally brown with orange-red tip to abdomen. Female may be green on top. Palps are white. Song resembles O. viridulus but lasts for 5-10 secs. Found in heaths and woodland rides and clearings from June to October. Locally common south of the Thames. Image taken at Martin Down, near Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Chorthippus paralellus (10-22 mm) Meadow grasshopper Green, brown and purple varieties exist. Small bulge on the front edge of forewing. Hindwings absent, forewings short - UKs only flightless grasshopper. Straight keels on the thorax. Pronotum contains little markings. Found June to October in all grassland, but particularly damp habitats. Song resembles a 'sewing machine' with short 3 sec bursts increasingly louder and repeated every 5-15 secs. Widespread and common. Image taken at Martin Down, near Salisbury, Wiltshire . ID confirmed by Paul Veenvliet on the UK-Grasshoppers-Crickets yahoo newsgroup, 8th Jan 2006 .

Pholidoptera griseaptera (12-20 mm; ovipositor ~10 mm) Dark bush-cricket Light brown, chesnut or almost black colour variations. Top of the head and pronotum always brown. Underside of the abdomen is greenish-yellow. Wings are reduced to ~5 mm in the male, the females are even shorter. Female is larger, paler and virtually wingless. Most active in evenings, but does sunbathe during the day. Found from July to November amongst rough vegetation in woodland rides, hedgerows and roadside verges. Omnivorous - feeding on a range of plants and insects. Song is a single high pitched chirp irregularly repeated. The nymphs hatch in April and are dark brown with a pale stripe; 6 instars becoming adult in July. Widespread, particularly in the south. Image taken at Garston Wood RSPB reserve, Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire . ID confirmed by Paul Veenvliet onn the UK-Grasshoppers-Crickets yahoo newsgroup, 8th Jan 2006 . (a) male, (b) male showing underside, (c) female and nymph, (d) younger nymph, (e) female side view

Leptophyes punctatissima (10-20 mm) Speckled bush-cricket Short and plump green speckled cricket. Short forewings in both sexes. Male has tiny brown wings on the body, females are short flaps - both are flightless. Both sexes have a thin brown line along the back. Well camouflaged on the vegetation of woodland rides and clearings from July to November. Found in gardens. Sings day and night. Song is short and scratcy, repeated every few secs, barely audible. Frequently in the south, rare elsewhere. Nymphs are present from May often sunning in groups on foliage - may be confused with juvenile capsid bugs. After 6 instars maturity is reached in August. Mainly vegetarian. Widespread up to the Midlands. Image is of a young female (no ovipositor yet) taken at Bentley Wood, Wiltshire . ID confirmed by Paul Veenvliet on the UK-Grasshoppers-Crickets yahoo newsgroup, 8th Jan'06 .

Conocephalus discolor (15-22 mm; ovipositor 9-13 mm) Long-winged conehead Fully winged. Green with brown stripe on the head and pronotum. Ovipositor is long and less strongly curved than C. dorsalis. Sometime may be all brown in colour. Primarily diurnal in rough tall grassland in both moist and dry habitats, particularly river valleys. A coloniser mainly found on the south coast in the UK but spreading northwards. Omnivorous - feeds on mainly grasses, but will eat aphids and small caterpillars. Song is high pitched in long bursts with a constant quiet tone - resembles a 'knife grinder'. Found from July to October. Nymphs have 5 instars and are bright green with a dark dorsal stripe. Image is of a female from Durlston Country Park, Swanage, Dorset .

Tettigonia viridissima (40-55 mm; ovipositor 18-25 mm) Great green bush-cricket Largest UK cricket. Both sexes fully winged but weak fliers. Males forewings have brown patches were stridulation occurs. The ovipositor is up to 20 mm long. Song resembles a 'sewing machine' - loud, harsh, continuing for long periods with short breaks every few secs. Most active in the evening, heard from afternoon into the night. Found from July to October in trees, shrubs and rough vegetation. Mainly southern in distribution along the coast from Norfolk to Pembrokeshire. Image is of a female from Stoborough Heath, near Wareham, Dorset . Images are of the adult (top) and nymph (bottom).

Nemobius sylvestris (7-12 mm; ovipositor 5-7 mm) Wood cricket Small dark and light brown cricket. No hind wings. Shorter forewings and ovipositor in female. Hind tibia have long spines. Found from June to November on leaf litter in woodland scrub. Song is a quiet prolonged warble that pauses every few secs. Sings through the day and night. Overwinters at the 5-6th nymphal instar, completing the 8th instar phase by July. Very local in the south of the UK. Image is of a female from the New Forest, Fritham, Hampshire .

Bush-crickets are distiguished by the huge length of their antennae, often exceeding the length of their body. The female possesses a large curved ovipositor resembling a blade. Wings often much reduced. More nocturnal than grasshoppers, although they are seen during the day, when they may be heard. Tarsi are four segmented. Saddle-shaped pronotum. The hearing organ is found at the base of the fore tibiae. Generally between five and six nymphal instars.

Body is more flattened than the bush-crickets and possess almost spherical heads. Antennae are long. Forewings if present are rolled up and pressed close to the abdomen, usually extending behind. Omnivorous. Ovipositor is straight. Square saddle-shaped pronotum. Tarsi are three segmented and possess long cerci. The haering organs are on the front tibiae. There are 8-11 nymphal instars. There are 4 species in the UK.

Distinguished from crickets by the short thick antennae. All are herbivores, though they may bite if handled. Diurnal, bask in the sun. Sexes are similar, although the males abdomen is often turned up slightly and the female is generally larger. Females do not possess ovipositors. The keels, ridges and colouration of the top of the pronotum are useful in identification. Pronotum does not extend over the abdomen hence distinguishing the species from groundhoppers. Three segmented tarsi. Hearing organ is located on the abdomen. Sing by rubbing hind legs together that cotain the stridulatory pegs. There are usually 4 nymphal instars.

Metrioptera brachyptera (15-20 mm; ovipositor 8-10 mm) Bog bush-cricket Dark brown cricket with green on the pronotum and forewings - may be completely brown. Bright green underneath; pale cream margin on the rear of each side of the pronotum. Short forewings. Song resembles a ticking clock. Found from July to November on bogs and wet heathland. Local distribution in the UK. Image taken at Meathop Moss, near Silverdale, lake District . Images are of the adult (left) and moulting adult (right).