Decticus verrucivorus (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Status: British Isles native species.

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.

Distribution: The records held by the National Biodiversity Network are shown in the map below.

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Only the following datasets are included:

• Biological Records Centre - Grasshopper and Cricket (Orthoptera) and related species records from Britain and Ireland to 2007

Other datasets on the gateway may hold additional information.