Orthoptera on flickr

Keels:
 

Chorthippus albomarginatus	Chorthippus  parallelus	Chorthippus brunneus	Chorthippus brunneus

24 July 2008
Hundreds of grasshoppers were stridulating in the Sea Purslane on the eastern estuarine bank of the River Adur opposite Cuckoo's Corner. Provisional identification was to the species called the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus. I have changed my mind about this one, and I think it is the Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus.

25 August 2007 A Speckled Bush Cricket was seen in the shade on the Slonk Hill Cutting south.

12 June 2007 On the Downs Link I spotted this grasshopper in the meadow (as the verge widens) south of the Cement Works.  It looks like the the Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus. (not confirmed)

29 April 2007
My first juvenile grasshopper was also spotted amongst the herbs on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. It was the Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus.
 

26 September 2006
There were still a few Field Grasshoppers, Chorthippus brunneus, on Mill Hill.

29 August 2006
A grasshopper jumped rather than flew at the window of the Cancer Relief Charity Shop in East Street, Shoreham. I captured it and put it in my tool box and released it in my front garden later in the afternoon.
 

This is a male of Chorthippus brunneus.  It has angled keels on the pronotum, brown knees of the hind legs, a red abdomen and typical wings with the (difficult to see) lobe on the underside.  It is a very good flyer and you can find it regularly within cities and towns.
ID by Hendrik Devriese (Belgium)
Checklist of UK Recorded Acrididae

11 July 2006
A Speckled Bush Cricket, Leptophyes punctatissima, landed on my bicycle parked underneath an Elderberry Bush on Mill Hill. On Mill Hill, the grasshoppers were striduating noisily, probably both of the common two species, but only a Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus, was seen and identified.
 

29 June 2006 Hundreds of Chorthippus grasshoppers, were very likely, jumping to 60 cm perhaps more on Sea Beet, grasses and other vegetation above the high tide mark on the east side of the River Adur estuary opposite Shoreham Airport were mostly Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers, Chorthippus albomarginatus.

24 June 2006
Hundreds of Chorthippus grasshoppers, very lively and these were mostly tiny to small nymphs over the grasses and stonecrops on the shingle to the west of the Old Fort on Shoreham Beach. They jumped on to the Silver Ragwort and Sea Kale leaves as well. They did not stridulate and could not be heard. These were almost certainly Common Field Grasshoppers, Chorthippus brunneus.

15 & 23 June 2006
Grasshoppers were stridulating and a Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus, was identified on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
 

11 June 2006 A Grasshopper was seen for the first time this year on the Pixie Path and later heard in one patch on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. This was almost certainly the Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus.

I arrived home in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham, just before dusk to find a Speckled Bush Cricket, Leptophyes punctatissima, on my front door, literally, (TQ 224 053).

14 September 2005
Small grasshoppers were active in the short grass just north of the Reservoir on Mill Hill and these looked like the same ones that were found on the lower slopes. They were very active so the photograph on the right is rather poor, but the best I could manage.
I thought these could be the Common Green Grasshopper, Omocestus viridulus, but research seems to indicate small Meadow Grasshoppers, Chorthippus parallelus.

12 September 2005
Small Meadow Grasshoppers, Chorthippus parallelus, were still hopping around on Mill Hill south of the Reservoir. The identity of these smaller than usual grasshoppers is still under enquiry for confirmation and a poor photograph is included on the right.

2 September 2005
Common Field Grasshoppers, Chorthippus brunneus and Dark Bush Crickets, Pholidoptera griseoaptera, were identified from the harbour grass bank opposite Shoreham Harbour Power Station.

1 September 2005
A further look at the grasshoppers on the margin of vegetation above the high tide mark on the east side of the River Adur were definitely two species, the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, and the Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus.
 

The wing is a very distinctive green on this species which is the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus.	The Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, would usually jump when disturbed but at least one turned its hop into a flight with whirring wings.	In this green grasshopper, the distinguishing mark of the female Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, is the white line on the leading edge of the wing.

Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus, on the riverbank.	The Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, is very well camouflaged.	The Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus, viewed from the side.

28 August 2005 Common Field Grasshoppers were falling into the webs of the Garden Orb Spiders on Slonk Hill. Adur Spiders

27 August 2005 A Dark Bush Cricket, Pholidoptera griseoaptera, estimated at 25 mm long (perhaps longer?). It was larger than any grasshopper I have ever seen.  This was seen by Miller's Stream, at the new southern entrance by the Steyning road.

26 August 2005 This small grasshopper was discovered (probably with others of the same and different species) on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.  This is almost certainly the Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus

25 August 2005
After the rain I ventured out as the spring tide nearly lapped against the banks of the Adur estuary.
 

Just south of the Toll Bridge there was still a margin of vegetation above the high tide mark on the east side of the river, with Orache and other wild grasses and plants and this area hosted dozens of active grasshoppers that appeared to jump at least of metre. They looked slightly different from the two commonly found on the downs meadows and wastelands on the edge of  town. Some, if not all, of them are the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper, Chorthippus albomarginatus. There could be more than one species present.

Definitely Chorthippus albomarginatus. The long wings and white stripe on the leading edge indicates a female. The male doesn't have the white stripe and is very similar to Chorthippus parallelus, except for its song which is very different.

18 August 2005
 

The first Wasp Spider seen this year was a smallish one that had captured a Meadow Grasshopper on the Slonk Hill Cutting and had rolled it up in its webbing.
Adur Spiders
 
 

9 August 2005 A juvenile grasshopper from a south Lancing garden. Its length of jump rather suggests a Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus.

7 August 2005
A cacophony of stridating green grasshoppers came from the long grass of Frampton's Field (horse fields next to the Pixie Path).

A Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus, was observed making a jump of two metres on the short sward exposed slopes on Mill Hill north of the Reservoir. The long grass usually hosts the Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus.

4 August 2005
A Long Winged Conehead, Conocephalus discolor, (a cricket) was recorded on camera in the Lancing Ring meadows in the late afternoon when the butterflies have gone to rest.
Link to Image

3 August 2005
A brief visit to Malthouse Meadow, Sompting, revealed that the ubiquitous grasshoppers were present but made little noise. A dark shape on a leaf drew me to look closer to find a Dark Bush Cricket.

25 July 2005
 

One of the Meadow Grasshoppers, Chorthippus parallelus, on the Slonk Hill Cutting southern bank, sported a fine purple livery. I inadvertently disturbed it mating with a green coloured partner.

22 July 2005
 

Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus Nymph: the wings have not grown yet At Slonk Hill south (eastern bank = Ringlet area).	Meadow Grasshopper, Chorthippus parallelus  Amongst the long grass at Slonk Hill south (next to the path).

17 July 2005 MEADOW GRASSHOPPER Chorthippus parallelus  Amongst the long grass at Slonk Hill south (eastern bank = Ringlet area).

18 June 2005
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, thousands of grasshoppers were clicking away in the grass.

7 June 2005
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the first grasshopper of the year was heard amongst the Tor Grass.
 
 

More Images
 
 

17 September 2003 This insect was the Speckled Bush Cricket, Leptophyes punctatissima, found in my front garden in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham (TQ 224 053).

The cricket hopped very slowly along the concrete path when poked, but mostly it crawled slowly around. It is an inhabitant of trees and bushes rather than the long grass, and may appreciate the Privet hedge and Brambles in my front patch.
UK Grasshoppers & Crickets (Yahoo Group)
 
 

23 July 2003 Common Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus. At Slonk Hill south (eastern bank = Ringlet area).

19 June 2003
The field next to the stream (TQ 209 068) to the west of the Waterworks (Old Shoreham) was like a jungle with thistles and nettles.

Several young (at least three) Dark Bush Crickets, Pholidoptera griseoaptera, were slow to hide in the thick vegetation.

UK Grasshoppers & Crickets (Yahoo Group)

How Grasshoppers jump

Grasshoppers and Crickets of Lancing (by Ray Hamblett)

Checklist of UK Recorded Acrididae
 

Orthopteroids 3 - Grasshoppers (by David Element)
Orthoptera of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly
European Grasshoppers
Species Index

Bumblebees
Hoverflies
Butterflies
Solitary Bees
Bees & Wasps
Flies
Beetles
Ladybirds
Moths
Grasshoppers & Crickets
Damselflies & Dragonflies