COMMON GREEN GRASSHOPPER |
OMOCESTUS VIRIDULUS |
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| Fig 1 |
DESCRIPTION: Length between 17 and 23mm. Primarily green in colour throughout with the males having no red colour at all on the abdomen. The eyes are either brown or yellow, the wings reach the full length of the body and the hindwings have noticeable darkened regions. There is no costal bulge on the edge of the forewing. Side keels on the pronotum are gently incurved. BEHAVIOUR: Easily disturbed from grass where they can drop down into and almost disappear. Males call mainly when a female is close by with songs lasting up to 60 seconds each with breaks of 10–15 s in between. The females also use stridulation to produce their songs. Songs have been compared to the free wheeling of a bicycle wheel. Feeds on numerous common grasses. DISTRIBUTION: Widespread throughout mainland Britain but becoming more localised. HABITAT: Places of dense, tall grass especially unmanaged sites. PERIOD: May to October. |