This grasshopper was resting in Broad-leaved sweatpea.
Bush crickets are rather abundant in the garden but representatives from the grasshopper family are scarce, so it’s nice to find one. No idea yet which species or gender it is.
To be continued ….
RECOGNITION
Edit 21 september 2015: Through Waarneming.nl forum this species is determined to be Bow-winged grasshopper (Chorthippus biguttulus), a male.
At first i had identified it as Chorthippus bruneus, a different strongly resembling species. The males can be distinguished between these species but the females are difficult. Grasshopper are also identified based on their song, unfortunately that won’t help us much here …. 😋
So what are the differences between these two species? In the composite photograph below the main characteristic of the Bow-winged grasshopper are shown based on the literature [1] .
- Precostal lobe present
- Front wings slightly longer than abdomen
- Costal field broadend, this wing section starts small at the head side and and diverges broadly at the backside
- Sub-costal field broadend, this section also starts small and then diverges
- Medial field not broadend, this wing section is equally broad across its length
- Black bands along the sidekeel stopping before the backside of the neck shield
- Side keel bent
- Hearing opening is slit shaped
- Antennae not thickend
- In most case a red color on the abdomen (not indicated in photo)
Compared to Chorthippus bruneus characteristics 2, 3 and 4 are decisive.
Literature
1 Keukers, R.M.J.C., E.J. van Nieukerken, B. Odé, L.P.M. Willemse & W.K.R.E. van Wingerden, 1997. "De sprinkhanen en krekels van Nederland (Orthoiptera). - Nederlandse Fauna I. Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, KNNV Uitgeverij & EIS-Nederland, Leiden. 416 blz., 16 platen.