Wart-biter (Decticus verrucivorus)

OTHER NAMES: Wart-Biter Cricket, Water-biter Bush Cricket

Latin Translation: Decticus (?) verrucivorus ("verruca eater")

Adult female Wart-biter (subspecies D. v. verrucivorus) in the Dolomites, Italy - July 2004

Featured Subspecies: Decticus verrucivorus verrucivorus
Length: 32-37mm (+21mm ovipoistor on females)  /  Wingspan: ? 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Wart-biter is a large distinctive looking cricket found in Europe, however it is very rare in the UK - limited only to a very few sites in South East England.  However, in Europe it is a bit more common, and I found a number of individuals in the Alpine Meadows of the Dolomites just in the grasslands.  The distinctive name comes from the medieval use of its powerful jaws as a way of removing warts.

Related Species:
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Decticus
SUBSPECIES: D. v. assiduus, D. v. brevipennis, D. v. crassus, D. v. gracilis, D. v. longipennis, D. v. mithati, D. v. monspeliensis, D. v. stoljarovi, D. v. verrucivorus

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - A fairly common resident in suitable habitat

 - DOLOMITES 2001 TRIP: A seen at various points in the Dolomites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Long-winged Conehead (Conocephalus discolor)

OTHER NAMES: Long-winged Field Katydid

Latin Etymology: Conocephalus ("cone headed") discolor ("variegated")

Adult male Long-winged Conehead (subspecies C. d. fuscus) at Geddington, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Conocephalus discolor fuscus

Length: 16-22mm  /  Wingspan: N/A
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Firstly to clarify this, though this individual may very distinctly have short wings, it is not a fully grown adult and thus has not developed them yet (which lead to a bit of confusion while I was trying to identify it).  Initially confined to the South of the Country, Global Warming has actually allowed this particular species to expand it's range by making our climate more level with that of the Continental temperatures it is more suited to.  Distinctive features include the dark stripe on the back and the proportionally enormously long antennae.

Related Species:
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Conocephalus
SUBSPECIES: C. d. fuscus, C.d. cyprius

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Dark Bush Cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Pholidoptera (?) griseoaptera ("grey ?")

Adult male Dark Bush Cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera) at Geddington Chase, Northants - May 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 13-20mm  /  Wingspan: N/A
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

In my area, probably just about the most common cricket species, being abundant in low level plants near to hedges and woods.  They are flightless and can reach up to around 2cm long. This particular individual is a male, which you can tell by the two short "cersi" which females have a long sword-like ovipositor.  They are omnivorous as adult and take two years to mature, before finally emerging as a full adult around June.

Related Species: 
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Pholidoptera
SUBSPECIES: ?

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident seen in Summer

 - Common around Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Roesel's bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Metrioptera (?) roeselii ("Roesel's")

Adult Roesel's bush-cricket (subspecies M. r. roeselii) at Geddington, Northants - September 2011

Featured Subspecies: Metrioptera roeselii roeselii
Length: 13-26mm  /  Wingspan: N/A
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

Rosesel's Bush Crickets are a medium sized cricket with a distinctive bright green edging to their thorax.  Named after a German entomologist called August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof, they are one of the most common species in Britain.  Mostly found on tall grasses, particularly in ungrazed fields, grass forms a significant portion of its diet along with seeds and small insects.

Related Species:
Order: Orthoptera
Family: Tettigoniidae
Genus: Metrioptera
SUBSPECIES: M. r. roeselii, M. r. vasilii

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident seen in Summer

 - Common around Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .