Omocestus rufipes (Zetterstedt, 1821)

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Status: British Isles native species.

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 increasing in volume before ending abruptly. Each song lasts 5-10 seconds.

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.

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.