[ID] Grasshopper nymph please!

[Jason Green]

Hi everyone!

Just a quickie please! A grasshopper nymph...

28/5/09, humid in garden, 9pm-ish

Not too sure on size...
...pretty flighty, often running for cover when my camera got near!

I realise people get bitten by spiders upon occasion... but would you believe this little nymph bit me about six times (Don't laugh at the back... ) when I carefully picked it up! No, really! I felt all the pricks, then looked down to see it repeatedly putting it's head down, clamping it's mandibles round my skin then lifting it's head up again, trying to tear it up it seemed! It was scarily focussed on it's task... as soon as it was on me, it got to work!

What species is this violent little offender please? Bitten by a little baby grasshopper... Will I ever live it down...

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Jason

[aeshna5]

Not a grasshopper Jason, but a bush-cricket! It's one of the 2 oak bush-cricket species, but difficult to differentiate as nymphs.

If I remember correctly you live in the London area + the Southern Oak Bush-cricket has become quite a widespread garden insect in places- I'm often finding it in gardens later in the summer when it's relativley wingless form distinguishes it from the fully winged native Oak Bush-cricket. There are also differences in their anal. appendages

[Jason Green]

Thanks Aeshna! I'll keep an eye out for the adult...