Woodland Grasshopper
Taxonomy
Orthoptera » Caelifera » Acridoidea » Acrididae » Gomphocerinae » Omocestus rufipes
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
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.