- Wildlife
- Invertebrates
- Grasshoppers and crickets
- Mottled Grasshopper
Philip Precey
About
The Mottled Grasshopper is a small grasshopper of dry places including heathland, quarries and railway cuttings, often in the uplands. It hatches in May and moults into adult form from June onwards, shedding its exoskeletons as it grows. Males can be seen displaying to females by rubbing their legs against their wings to create a 'song' - in this case, it is soft, rapid 'zrrr zrrr' noise lasting 10 seconds. After mating, the eggs are laid in the soil ready to hatch the following spring.
How to identify
The Mottled Grasshopper is easily identified if seen well by its characteristic club-tipped antennae. Its song is a series of wet buzzes, rising in volume to a crescendo and then stopping abruptly.
Where to find it
Widespread.
Habitats
When to find it
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
How can people help
Grasshoppers are a food source for many animals, including bats, birds and amphibians, providing a vital link in the food chain. The Wildlife Trusts recognise the importance of healthy habitats to support all kinds of species throughout the food chain, so look after many grassland nature reserves for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from scrub-cutting to stockwatching.