Grasshopper observations in your area this year

[Deb London]

There seems to have been an explosion of Common Green Grasshoppers around here lately. The first grasshopper that I identified this year was the Common Green. And at the moment it's the one that I seem to be finding all the time (assuming my ID skills are OK - it's not one of the ones I would expect, like Meadow, at least). I rarely found one last year.

I wondered if anyone else has noticed anything similar. Or if anyone had any other observations about their local grasshoppers.

[Littlesparrow]

I can here them in an undisturbed meadow I walk through in Cheshire, I didn't go looking for them to see what sort they where.

Annie.

[jpscloud]

I have a bit of a thing about grasshoppers so wanted to ressurect this thread - I have never seen or heard any even though in some years the grass at the back of the garden has been completely undisturbed and the back fence of my garden backs onto a patch of rough ground about 10 feet wide that is never mown, around a very small field that is occasionally used by local kids as a play area but only gets mown a couple of times a year.

Any ideas on what I can do to attract grasshoppers into my garden?

[Kayleigh]

I have only seen 1 this year in my garden and that was a field grasshopper.

[Deb London]

In my younger, dafter days I would collect them and let them go in the garden, hoping that they would be happy. They didn't breed and I learnt a lesson not to meddle.

During these wild child days I did decide that it is more than just long grass that they need.

They might be moving in naturally now (Field Grasshoppers) and I noticed the other day that they were attracted to the border of taller herbaceous plants.

And if I do go all out for "groppers" then I will find the nearest location (which is the beautifully untidy garden two doors down at the moment) and try and recreate the herbs. But I can't do the sunlight - north-facing unfortunately. They seem to like the sun. But I would like to know what others think as it's an interesting question.

[jpscloud]

It certainly is... I have a south-facing garden but the long grass part is in the shade much of the day as it's at the south end and shaded by my wooded area. I am willing to give over a patch that gets full sun all day if that would be more attractive. I'd love to know what the optimum conditions and planting are.

It's good to know they are nearby littlesparrow, thanks for posting your observations.

[aeshna5]

I have been to a few places this year around London + the south-east where there have been very high numbers of Meadow Grasshoppers, but other species seem not to be so common.

It has been commented on by orthopterists that Common Green seemed to be in decline, so it's good if you are seeing these a lot.

[Deb London]

I tend to ID using a combination of appearance and song. I assume CG is the only one with a continuous song of several seconds with a quiet start and an abrupt end. I'm prepared to be told that I'm wrong on this as some descriptions are hard to decipher. But earlier in the year I was catching CGs mainly.

[htcdude]

I also saw a lot of Meadow Grasshoppers (thanks to aeshna for the ID the other day ) at Ham House in Richmond.

Not seen any Common Green but then haven't gone out of my way to look. Am going to Staines tomorrow, will try and see what species I get there.

Nige

[diggleken]

Common Green in profusion round here, south pennines.
Cheers
Ken