Stripe-winged Grasshopper (Stenobothrus lineatus)

Stripe-winged Grasshopper (Stenobothrus lineatus), Budby Forest, Notts, August 28, 2012

This site is on the margin of Sherwood Forest in open heathland with much heather. At the moment it is close to the northern U.K. limit for the species. Individuals are quite localised and favour sheltered areas with heather nearby into which they readily disappear when disturbed. Superficially similar to the Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus), they can best be distinguished by the much thicker cream margin of the pronotal keels, the wide ladder-shaped wing cells giving a relatively broad forewing, the prominent white stigma on the wing, and the red flush (when present) on the abdomen (never red in the Common Green). A very attractive pink-tinged form also occurs here (shown below).

Normal colour form (above), pink colour form (below). Budby Forest, Notts, September 22, 2012

Pink colour form (four photos above and below). Budby Forest, Notts, September 22, 2012

 The enlarged ladder-like wing cells (indicated by blue arrows at upper right of centre) result in a widening of the wing in this species; the white stigma can also be seen

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