This cricket was found in our kitchen in early August. My wife, Denise, and I share house cleaning duties. I am responsible for the kitchen, as can be judged by the fluff this poor chap has attached to his right hind!
We know he is a “cricket” because of the long antennae. Grasshoppers, and Groundhoppers have shorter antennae.
He is a male because of the graspers at the end of the abdomen The female has a sword like ovipostor to cut open grass stems to deposit eggs.
He is a “Roesel Bush-Cricket”. They are normally brown or yellow, with yellow spots along the abdomen. The vast majority have reduced wings, and cannot fly. (brachypterous). 1% have longer wings and can fly. (macropterous). These longer wings develop in the last nymph stage, if the environment is “hostile / unsuitable” and there is a need for the species to fly to a better environment.
They like a humid environment amongst long grasses. They eat grass, grass seed and small insects and are well suited to the long ungrazed grasses in the Knapp area.
The males creates a “song” by rubbing his wings together (compared to the Grasshopper that rubs hind legs together). He likes to sing from the top of tall grasses to attract a mate. This is called “stridulation” and can occur for a long time in hot weather, sounding like the buzz of an overhead electric cable.
Some of the photos show him cleaning kitchen dust off his legs!
Simon Papworth
Early August 2024
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