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.

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.

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.