Metrioptera roeselii (Hagenbach, 1822)

Roesel’s Bush Cricket

Taxonomy: 

  • OrthopteraEnsiferaTettigonioideaTettigoniidaeDecticinaeMetrioptera roeselii

Status: 

UK

Distribution

Recordings

  • Calling song.

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.

Open the NBN Atlas interactive map in a new window.

Description: 

Usually dark brown and yellow but sometimes tinged green or rarely completely green. Broad cream-coloured margin all the way around the sides of the pronotum, and three pale yellow spots on the sides of the thorax.

Size: 

13-26 mm

Wings: 

Usually short-winged (brachypterous) and flightless, but a fully winged form able to fly (f. diluta) is not uncommon in hot summers

Stridulation: 

Penetrating and continuous high pitched buzzing like the crackle of overhead electricity cables

Food: 

Omnivorous, but feeding mostly on grass and other vegetation.

Habitat: 

Saltmarshes and dunes in coarse vegetation but currently expanding its range west and north to urban wasteland and agricultural set-aside.

Phenology: 

Nymphs emerge in late May and June. Adults present from late July until autumn.