Wartbiter
Taxonomy
Orthoptera » Ensifera » Tettigonioidea » Tettigoniidae » Decticinae » Decticus verrucivorus
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
Typically found as the green form in England, which is speckled with black wing markings, and has large, dark eyes. Frog-like appearance with powerful hind legs. The ovipositor is curved slightly upwards – unlike in the Great Green Bush Cricket.
Size
31-37 mm
Wings
Both sexes have wings that reach or slightly exceed the end of the body. Due to its weight, however, the species is flightless.
Stridulation
Fairly loud and distinctive, rapidly repeated clicks that often start slow and get faster.
Food
Omnivorous, eating herbs but also insects including other grasshoppers.
Habitat
Complex and specific mosaic of bare ground and long and short turf – in chalk downland or heathland. Eggs are laid in bare soil next to clumps of grass.
Phenology
Eggs remain dormant for at least two years and hatch in April. Adults present from July until autumn.