Grasshoppers

Tettigoniidae

Roesel's Bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) - common in any areas of tallish grassy vegetation, but best detected by its very high-pitched 'dentist drill' sounds between July and September; earliest auible record was 22nd June in 2020. These are so high-pitched that many older ears cannot hear them - take a child to find them for you. An attractive bush-cricket with a distinctive pale U-shaped mark around the edge of the lobe on the side of the thorax. Unlike Dark Bush-crickets, I never stumble across the nymphs.

Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera) - common around the village, with nymphs first visible from mid April and the adults giving audible high-pitched calls from July onwards, up to the first cold nights of autumn.

Great Green Bush-cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) - an exciting new arrival in 2023, heard along Hollow Lane and later near Hawes Green. The largest British cricket, a southern species but gradually expanding northwards and inland with warming winters. Very loud for those with ears to hear it, although many people can't detect the higher frequency call.

Conocephalidae

Short-winged Conehead (Conocephalus dorsalis) - confirmed records from Shotesham Common in August 2006 and August 2013; probably present each year.

Long-winged Conehead (Conocephalus fuscus) - an expanding species, with confirmed records from the village in 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019.

Meconematidae

Southern Oak Bush-cricket (Meconema meridionale) - another species strongly expanding its range in the UK as a result of climate change, one was found on a car roof in November 2018.

Oak Bush-cricket (Meconema thalassinum) - widespread records, noted most years, sometimes coming to light (windows and moth trap). Not detectable by ear.

Phaneropteridae

Speckled Bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) - common but not detectable by ear, records widely around the village although not yet to the ultra-violet light of the moth-trap.

Tetrigidae

Slender Groundhopper (Tetrix subulata) - inconspicuous but probably widespread on damp ground, including from Shotesham Common, Three Ponds Wood and the edge of Shotesham Great Wood. The related Common  Groundhopper has not yet been found in Shotesham - it tends to favour more acidic soils.

Acrididae

Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) - common, under-recorded

Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) - common and widespread

Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus) - widespread but not abundant, heard between June and September most years.

Also to look for

Lesser Marsh Grasshopper (Chorthippus albomarginatus) - an old record in 2006 but not again since, seems plausible but would like to reconfirm