Lesser Marsh Grasshopper
Taxonomy
Orthoptera » Caelifera » Acridoidea » Acrididae » Gomphocerinae » Chorthippus albomarginatus
Status
UK
Distribution Map
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.
Recordings
Description
Similar in appearance to the Meadow Grasshopper; straw brown or light green-coloured and less brightly coloured than the Meadow Grasshopper. The side keels of the pronotum are almost parallel.
Size
13-23 mm
Wings
Functional wings that rarely reach the end of the pronotum. The species flies readily in hot weather.
Stridulation
Gentle burr repeated in cycles 2-6 times. Courtship stridulation sounds like a clock being wound.
Food
Mainly grasses.
Habitat
Landward side of sand dunes, also saltmarshes and shingle banks, low lying pastures and on the grassy slopes of dykes. Inland it is found on a wide range of rough grassy areas, often with sedges and grassy embankments. The species also occurs on roadside verges, waste ground, urban parkland, set-aside arable land, and in damp clearings in woods. Eggs are laid adjacent to grass stems on the surface of the soil.
Phenology
Mid season species with nymphs hatching in May. Adults appear from early to mid July and remain abundant through to October.