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Roesel's Bush-cricket

Roesel's Bush-cricket ©Philip Precey

Roesel's bush-cricket

The song of the Roesel's bush-cricket is very characteristic: long, monotonous and mechanical. It can be heard in rough grassland, scrub and damp meadows in the south of the UK, but it is spreading north.

Scientific name

Metrioptera roeselii

When to see

June to October

Species information

Statistics

Length: up to 2cm
Common.

Habitats

About

Until the early 20th century, Roesel's bush-cricket was only found on the south-east coast. Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in its range, particularly helped by roadside rough grassland and scrub providing a 'corridor' for it to travel along. It favours damp meadows and grassland, but can be found elsewhere. It is usually wingless, but a rare winged form does exist and fly, and may be more numerous during hot summers.

How to identify

The Roesel's bush-cricket is dark brown with orangey legs, a green face, a creamy border to the thorax, and two or three cream spots on its sides. It is best recognised by its song, which is a long, monotonous, mechanical noise.

Distribution

Found in South East England, but spreading north and west.

Did you know?

When stridulating (singing), the Roesel's bush-cricket sounds just like a singing Savi's Warbler, a rare bird that nests in reedbeds. Each species of bush-cricket produces a sound unique to them, and females only respond to the song of their own species.