Aids to Orthopteroid Identification

An area for archived forum posts
Post Reply
SteveMcBill
Posts: 809
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:15 am
Location: Runcorn, Cheshire
Contact:

Aids to Orthopteroid Identification

Post by SteveMcBill »

Orthoptera as an Order includes Grasshoppers and Crickets. The following websites have photographs which may help you in your identification of sightings and/or photographs. The best bet is to key them out using the key in the Harley Books volume "Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland" by Judith Marshall and E. C. M. Haes.

Website are:

http://wbrc.org.uk/worcRecd/Issue8/hopper3.htm

http://delta-intkey.com/britin/ort/www/intro.htm

http://www.david.element.ukgateway.net/ ... ppers1.htm

For Books then try:

  • Guide to British Grasshoppers and Allied Insects, Field Studies Council/ Natural History Museum, 1999
    A good general guide, convenient for taking out in the field.
    Grasshoppers and Allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland, Judith A Marshall and ECM Haes, Harley Books, 1988
    A very comprehensive identification guide covering all British and Irish grasshoppers, crickets, bush-crickets, earwigs, cockroaches and stick insects.


Cheers

Steve :)
PaulMartinHill
Posts: 158
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Re: Aids to Orthopteroid Identification

Post by PaulMartinHill »

Another excellent book is "A Photographic Guide to Grasshoppers and Crickets of Britain and Ireland" by Martin Evans and Roger Edmundson.
PaulMartinHill
Posts: 158
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 am

Re: Aids to Orthopteroid Identification

Post by PaulMartinHill »

Another aid is the Collins Field Guide to Wildlife Sounds. This includes a CD which has recordings of the following species found in Cheshire:

Common Green Grasshopper
Field Grasshopper
Meadow Grasshopper
Mottled Grasshopper
Bog Bush Cricket

Most other Orthoptera species are included (Ground-hoppers don't stridulate) on the CD, as are many birds and mammals. Retail price is £16.00, but I've found the book at remainder / bargain book stores for about a fiver!!

Paul
Post Reply