Worcestershire Record No. 21 April 2007 pp. 11-12

by Gary Farmer (Based on my personal observations)

Tetrix undulata – Common Groundhopper
Widespread. Overlooked due to small size.

Tetrix subulata – Slender Groundhopper
Widespread in wetlands and woodlands.

Chorthippus brunneus – Field Grasshopper
Still common throughout county. Needs hot dry habitats, so fared well in 2006.

Chorthippus albomarginatus – Lesser Marsh Grasshopper
Continues to spread in to ‘non-typical’ habitats, now occurring in almost any grassland. Possibly our most numerous species in 2006 (?).

Chorthippus parallelus – Meadow Grasshopper
Still widespread and common but declining (?). Not so numerous in 2006, especially where C. albomarginatus occurred in large numbers. Is C. parallelus declining as a result of climate change or is C. albomarginatus out competing it in someway?

Omocestus viridulus – Common Green Grasshopper
Colonies persisted late in to the summer so hopefully it has been a good breeding year and 2007 should be a good year for this species.

Stenobothrus lineatus – Stripe-winged Grasshopper
Status uncertain. I have still been unable to find the two reported colonies on the Malvern Hills despite having the grid references.

Acheta domestica – House Cricket
Not as many reports of this species as I had expected in 2006. Not likely to be breeding outside of buildings in the county (yet). Any records from moth traps?

Meconema thalassinum – Oak Bushcricket
I’m sure moth trappers are ‘suppressing’ records for this species. It appears to have had a very good year so must have been turning up in moth traps around the county.

Leptophyes puntatissima – Speckled Bushcricket
An elusive species, so difficult to assess but appears to be on the increase.

Pholidoptera griseoaptera – Dark Bushcricket
Widespread and numerous but does not appear to be spreading.

Conocephalus discolor – Long-winged Conehead
Spreading rapidly especially across the north east of the county.

Conocephalus dorsalis – Short-winged Conehead
Very numerous where it does occur, but very local due to it being ‘habitat-specific’. It needs lots of rushes for food and ovipositing so needs good marshy grassland.

Metreoptera roeselii – Roesel’s Bushcricket
Expanding its range rapidly in a north east direction so could be all over the county next year.