Chorthippus brunneus, the common field grasshopper, is a species of grasshopper found across Europe, much of Asia and North Africa. It is common in mostly dry and often sparse grassland, from the beginning of summer until October. It is very hairy below the thorax. Its song consist of short shirps like time-signal pips.

Thanks to DerbyshireDave (& son!) and Ian-S for helping me to ID this fella!

Tags:   Rainham Marshes Grasshopper RSPB Path

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Roesel's Bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) is a European bush-cricket, named after August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof, a German entomologist.

Until the early 20th century, Roesel’s Bush-cricket was only found on the south-east coast. Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in its range, particularly helped by roadside rough grassland and scrub providing a 'corridor' for it to travel along. It favours damp meadows and grassland, but can be found elsewhere.

Tags:   Roesel's Bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii Hanningfield Reservoir Essex Wildlife Trust Fence Post Cricket Insect Elite Bug

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The speckled bush-cricket is a species of bush-cricket common in well vegetated areas of England and Wales, such as woodland margins, hedgerows and gardens.

The eggs are laid, in late summer, into tree bark or plant stems where they remain over winter. The nymphs emerge in May and June and mature as adult speckled bush crickets by mid August.

These insects can be seen perched motionless in bushes and sometimes in porches and on window ledges. They are most active at dusk and at night.

Females can be identified by their sabre-like ovipositor, marking this specimen out as a male.

Tags:   Speckled Bush-cricket Leptophyes punctatissima Newport Pembrokeshire Wales Insect Cricket Leaf Summer Afon Nyfer Pen-y-Bont

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The Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus) is a small grasshopper with many colour variations, ranging through greens, browns and greys.

It lives in dry, sunny places where the grass is short and there is bare ground or rocks. Railway sidings, old quarries, heathland and coastal areas are the main habitats where it is found.

Nymphs hatch from the end of April to June. Adults appear by mid June through to October.

The Mottled Grasshopper is widely distributed but not common in the UK.

Tags:   Mottled Grasshopper Camouflage Rock Grasshopper St. David's Head Heath Myrmeleotettix maculatus Insect National Trust Elite Bug Lichens

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I was really pleased with this shot! (And it's not often I say that!!!!!)

Now I'm hoping someone can help with ID, and with explaining the behaviour I was lucky enough to see and to capture! (Kind of assuming it's some grasshopper passion, but then again I'm not intimately acquainted with grashopper behaviour!)

Thanks Guys!

Tags:   Woodham Fen Grasshopper Insect Leaf Grasses Essex Wildlife Trust South Woodham Ferrers Essex

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