Omocestus rufipes (Zetterstedt, 1821)

Woodland Grasshopper

Taxonomy: 

  • Orthoptera›Caelifera›Acridoidea›Acrididae›Gomphocerinae›Omocestus rufipes

Status: 

UK

Distribution

Recordings

  • Calling song. Three verses, interval between verses shortened.
  • Courtship song, ending with mounting 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: 

Dark greyish brown; underside of the posterior of the abdomen in mature adults is red or orange. The tips of the palps (mouthparts) are almost white. Pronotal keels incurved. Females exhibit two colour forms: all brown or with green forewings and upperside of the head and pronotum.

Size: 

12-20 mm

Wings: 

Fully winged.

Stridulation: 

Sibilant clicking, starting quietly and getting louder before ending abruptly. Verses last 5-10s. The more widespread Common Green Grasshopper sounds very similar but verses last longer.

Food: 

Grasses.

Habitat: 

Rides and clearings in woodland and on grassland or heath near woodland and scrub. Eggs are laid in the soil.

Phenology: 

Nymphs appear from April or May. Adults appear in June and rarely survive beyond mid-October.