Chorthippus vagans (Eversmann, 1848)
Heath Grasshopper
Taxonomy:
- Orthoptera›Caelifera›Acridoidea›Acrididae›Gomphocerinae›Chorthippus vagans
Status:
Distribution
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Recordings
-
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Courtship song.
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Calling song. Three verses, interval between verses shortened.
Colours show the year of the last record -
| up to 1987 | 1988-97 | 1998 up to present |
Only Recording Scheme datasets are included. Other datasets on the Gateway may hold additional information.
Description:
Dark, greyish brown with little variation. The pronotum has incurved side-keels and dark wedge-shaped markings. In mature adults the abdomen develops an orange or orange-red tinge extending to the hind femora, which have two dark bands.
Size:
Wings:
Winged.
Stridulation:
Buzzing with a rapid irregular pulse, repeated at varying intervals; similar to the Meadow Grasshopper but slower and louder, lasting 5-6 seconds.
Food:
Heather and other heathland plants.
Habitat:
Dry heathland, frequently in areas of pure heather without grasses. The eggs are laid just below the surface of the soil.
Phenology:
Short season with nymphs hatching in May. Adults appear by late June and July but only survive until October.