This forum post is designed to aid in the identification, and improve knowledge and records, of the various Groundhopper species found in Britain and especially focusing on the rare macropterous form of the Common Groundhopper.

The Common Groundhopper (Tetrix undulata) is common and widespread throughout Britain in its usual form of having a short pronotum and short wings .....

..... but there is also a long-winged form (f. macroptera) of the Common Groundhopper found mainly in or near Scots Pine woodland in the Cairngorm National Park in the Highlands of Scotland and surrounding areas.

This rare macropterous form is very similar to both the Slender Groundhopper (Tetrix subulata) .....

..... and Cepero's Groundhopper (Tetrix ceperoi) .....

but mainly differs due to the look of the keel running the length of the pronotum. In macropterous Common Groundhopper the keel is very prominent and "domed" while in both the other two species the keel is low, more or less even in height along its length and overall less prominent, also in Cepero's the mid femur is wavy in outline.

Usually both the Slender Groundhopper and Cepero's Groundhopper are more southern species within Britain but in 2008 and again in 2010 a number of confirmed Slender Groundhoppers were found in the Cairngorm National Park in Scotland by the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group (BSCG) (http://www.bscg.org.uk/) indicating a previously unknown disjunct northern population, so any finds of long-winged Groundhoppers especially in Scotland should be checked closely to see if they are either Slender Groundhopper or macropterous forms of the Common Groundhopper and all records, and if possible images, submitted to the Orthopera Recording Scheme via the online recording form.

Thanks.