Wildlife Review 2025: Grasshoppers and allies

Grasshoppers and Bush-crickets (Orthoptera)

Recorded in all life stages (instars) from nymphs to adult. Mostly active in warmer months, with nymphs being found earlier in the year. The site audit is fairly stable, although some species can go unrecorded in some years. Tall vegetation in the summer months provide ideal habitat, with fifteen species recorded this year. 

The first Bush-crickets of the were all early instars with Great Green Bush-cricket on 22nd April, Long-winged Conehead and Speckled Bush-cricket on 10th May, Dark Bush-cricket on 12th May, and the first Meadow Grasshopper on 19th May. Adults would not appear until mid-summer.

Long-winged Conehead - Alan Keatley

The nationally scarce and predominantly coastal Grey Bush-cricket was noted from 1st June. Other species appearing in June included Field Grasshopper from 8th, Mottled Grasshopper from 15th and with the more arboreal Oak Bush-cricket from 28th. Roesel's Bush-cricket, a recent colonist, were located by their stridulating on 6th August. One of the less frequently recorded species on site, Lesser Marsh Grasshopper was noted on 11th August with an equally elusive Short-winged Conehead on the same date, both seemingly restricted to the saltmarsh.

Field Grasshopper - Alan Keatley

Groundhoppers (Tetrigidae)

Similar to grasshoppers, but do not stridulate. The three UK species overwinter as adults, so spring records are not unexpected. All three species have been recorded on site, although the rarest Cepero's groundhopper hasn't been seen for many years. This year Common Groundhopper was noted from 21st April with Slender Groundhopper from 30th April. 

Slender Groundhopper 30th April - Alan Keatley

Earwigs (Dermaptera)

Elongated bodies with forceps shaped tail (cerci). The familiar Common Earwig was found hibernating under bark on 13th January, becoming more active in spring and summer in various habitats. The nationally scarce Lesne's Earwig was also found hibernating on 20th January, with other records from more open sandy areas.

Lesne's Earwig 20th January - Alan Keatley

Cockroaches (Blattidae)

All three species on the site audit are nationally scarce, largely confined to southern areas.  No Dusky Cockroach this year, however Lesser Cockroach were recorded from 1st May and Tawny Cockroach from 25th June, the latter often attracted to light. 

Lesser Cockroach nymph - Alan Keatley