Field Grasshopper or..

GuyF · #21 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Does anyone have a good description in a good book of the Field Grasshopper? As far as the pics in the Gallery go, I wouldn't take anything for certain as I do know many pics there are incorrect, take for example all (19 pics on last view) of Calliphora vomitoria are incorrect, there seems to be no-one who will make the corrections even when pointed out.

Sorry if I've misunderstood you here, but I'm sure that the two photos that I posted are of Field Grasshoppers, id points include:
-Costal bulge on wing
-Very hairy thorax
-Keels strongly angled
These features combined rule out the other UK species. The book 'A Photographic Guide to the Grasshoppers & Crickets of Britain and Ireland' is a very useful one for identification, a few of the male Field Grasshoppers illustrated show similar wing shapes to the ones in the photos I posted. Bow-winged Grasshopper is mentioned as a potential colonist too, although it doesn't included photos or details of how to identify them.
Guy

JRsbugs · #22 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 01:29 PM

If you know your grashoppers that well then I have to take your word (and others) for it Guy, no offence meant but so many people make random guesses with no scientific evidence and I'm working blind here so I don't know who really does know for sure.

But your book does state as you have said:

Quote:

Bow-winged Grasshopper is mentioned as a potential colonist too, although it doesn't included photos or details of how to identify them.

Thus still giving me no real scientific evidence, lol, don't worry I'm like a dog with a bone when I get going and want all the evidence.

GuyF · #23 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

If you know your grashoppers that well then I have to take your word (and others) for it Guy, no offence meant but so many people make random guesses with no scientific evidence and I'm working blind here so I don't know who really does know for sure.

But your book does state as you have said:

Thus still giving me no real scientific evidence, lol, don't worry I'm like a dog with a bone when I get going and want all the evidence.

Don't worry, no offence taken

There are relatively few people who are interested in grasshoppers, so I'm sure it would be very easy for a species like the Bow-winged to be overlooked. From doing some more research, there are apparently differences in the number of stridulatory pegs in the two species, so that's one way you may be able to identify it, although you would probably need either a dead grasshopper or a lot of patience to be able to count them!
Guy