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Tag Archives: British bush-crickets

R is for Roesel’s bush-cricket

23 Thursday Dec 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British bush-crickets, British crickets, bush-cricket

My cricketing highlight of the year (definitely nothing to do with the sport, believe me!) came back in September when I finally found my first Roesel’s bush-cricket. Next summer, I’m hoping to tune my ears in to its distinctive stridulation to find more of these handsome creatures.

211223 roesel's bush cricket

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Roesel’s bush-cricket

25 Saturday Sep 2021

Posted by sconzani in insects

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British bush-crickets, bush-cricket, Roesel's bush-cricket, Roeseliana roeselii

Many times in recent months, I’ve read of people hearing the characteristic song (or, more correctly, stridulation) of Roesel’s bush-cricket (Roeseliana roeselii). It’s supposedly ‘long, monotonous and mechanical’. And so I’ve gone to its usual habitat of coarse vegetation, marshy areas, field borders and scruffy urban wasteland to listen, but heard nothing (maybe, as I’m getting older, I’m losing that sound frequency).

210925 roesel's bush-cricket (3)

So, I was over the moon earlier this week when I just happened to spot this handsome beastie enjoying the sunshine on a mound of dirt amongst the long grass at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park. I couldn’t get a very clear view, and didn’t want to get too close in case he jumped away, but I could see the distinctive ‘creamy border to the thorax’ so knew I’d finally found my cricket.

210925 roesel's bush-cricket (4)

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Bush-crickets

16 Monday Aug 2021

Posted by sconzani in nature

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British bush-crickets, British orthoptera, crickets, Dark bush-cricket, Speckled bush-cricket

August is the time of the crickets, when many species mature from nymph to adults and the males begin their night-time wing-against-wing-rubbing (called stridulation) to advertise their presence.

210816 dark bush-cricket

I found this Dark bush-cricket sunning itself on a bramble bush. It started to move under a leaf as I approached with my macro-lensed camera but then kindly consented to pose for some images. It’s such a handsome beast, with its dappled brown body armour.

210816 speckled bush-cricket

This Speckled bush-cricket also wasn’t sure about me getting so close but somehow sensed I wasn’t a threat. She’s a stunning female – the dagger-like appendage on her rear is her ovipositor, used to lay eggs in tree bark and plant stems.

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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