Chorthippus albomarginatus
Encyclopedia
Chorthippus albomarginatus, the lesser marsh grasshopper, is a common grasshopper
of European grassland
both damp-marshy and (despite its name) dry, including salt-marsh
and coastal habitats.
and southern Scandinavia
in the north to Spain and Italy in the south. It was once present only in the southern parts of the UK but has been expanding its range northwards.
The region behind the head is referred to as the "pronotal side-keels" and the bars are approximately parallel in this species. Although quite similar, it can be distinguished from the meadow grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus
, which also has straight pronotal side-keels, by a number of characteristics. These include its ability to fly, white stripe on female's wing, and more pointed snout. It often tends to be less brightly coloured and more straw-brown than Chorthippus parallelus
.
Both sexes can be extremely variable in colour from green to brown.
, though perhaps a little slower, with 2–6 chirps each lasting approximately half a second. There can be an 'alternation song' between competing males. Females lay eggs at the base of grass blades.
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish it from bush crickets or katydids, it is sometimes referred to as the short-horned grasshopper...
of European grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
both damp-marshy and (despite its name) dry, including salt-marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
and coastal habitats.
Distribution
The range of the lesser marsh grasshopper extends from FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and southern Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
in the north to Spain and Italy in the south. It was once present only in the southern parts of the UK but has been expanding its range northwards.
Physical appearance
Females grow to approximately 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in) and are larger than males that grow to approximately 15 mm (0.590551181102362 in). The female almost always has a longitudinal white stripe on the wing whereas the male rarely does.The region behind the head is referred to as the "pronotal side-keels" and the bars are approximately parallel in this species. Although quite similar, it can be distinguished from the meadow grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus
Chorthippus parallelus
Chorthippus parallelus, the meadow grasshopper, is a common species of grasshopper found in non-arid grasslands throughout the well vegetated areas of Europe and some adjoining areas of Asia...
, which also has straight pronotal side-keels, by a number of characteristics. These include its ability to fly, white stripe on female's wing, and more pointed snout. It often tends to be less brightly coloured and more straw-brown than Chorthippus parallelus
Chorthippus parallelus
Chorthippus parallelus, the meadow grasshopper, is a common species of grasshopper found in non-arid grasslands throughout the well vegetated areas of Europe and some adjoining areas of Asia...
.
Both sexes can be extremely variable in colour from green to brown.
Song and reproduction
The song is very similar to Chorthippus brunneusChorthippus brunneus
Chorthippus brunneus, the common field grasshopper, is a species of grasshopper found across Europe, much of Asia and North Africa . It is common in mostly dry and often sparse grassland, from the beginning of summer until October. Very hairy below the thorax. Song consist of short shirps like...
, though perhaps a little slower, with 2–6 chirps each lasting approximately half a second. There can be an 'alternation song' between competing males. Females lay eggs at the base of grass blades.