ROESEL'S BUSH CRICKET |
METRIOPTERA ROESELII |
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| Fig 1 |
DESCRIPTION: Length between 8 - 15mm. A wonderful cricket that is easily identified by the forewings reaching to about midway along the abdomen (beware - macropterous forms do occur), the broad green to yellow edging to the pronotal flaps and the three greenish markings on the sides of the thoracic segments. The cerci of the male are toothed in the apical third. BEHAVIOUR: A mainly diurnal creature that can be difficult to locate by day. Occasionally attracted to light. The song is a uniformed high pitch buzz similar to that of the Savi's Warbler. Feeds on grasses and sometimes small insects. The long winged form usually occurs in hot summers when chances of small migrations are possible. DISTRIBUTION: Uncommon only found in southern Britain but slowly spreading. HABITAT: Open damp grassy areas where lush vegetation occurs. PERIOD: July to October. |