[ID] Long-winged Conehead?

Jason Green · #1 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 05:49 PM

Hi all,

I saw this Orthopteran today - am I correct in thinking it's a Long-winged Conehead? I initially made it jump - literally (!) - which is how I noticed it. I saw the colours of a hopper I hadn't seen before and thought 'Please come back... please!!!' I bent down with the camera, and unbeknown to it - it actually came, through a few weeds even, back towards me! It settled down with a perfect broadside and was in no hurry to move off. I managed these shots...

25/09/2009

The head, whole thing and ovipositor. All are off-camera, resized but uncropped.

...which I'll submit to the Gallery later.

What is the UK status exactly? I read it was 'Na'. Is it native as well?

Take care,

Jason

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 25-09-2009, 05:53 PM

I can't see the photo Jason, but LW Conehead is now a very common insect in the London area in a range of grasslands, wetlands + coarse herbage. Often in the same habitats as Roesel's Bush-cricket which similarly expanded its range considerably over the last 15-20 years.

Can see photo now- yes it is; also native, first arriving on IOW in 1930s + think the first mainland record was 1945. A relatively recent natural colonist!