Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus

The Meadow Grasshopper is native to damp meadows and pastures over most of the UK and Europe. As its scientific name indicates, it has almost parallel (slightly incurved) light lines on its pronutum, though these are not always visible.

Most are green but there can be some variation including pink (especially females) and brown. Some have brown on the head and centre of the pronutum, usually continuing down the centre back, especially males that have full length brown forewings as adults. Females usually have small vestigal fore and hind wings. The belly is usually yellowish and the back of the "knees" is dark.

The larger female reaches some 20mm length. Like other grasshoppers, eggs are laid in loose ground and over-winter. The "song", made by the male rubbing his back leg on his wing, is a short (1-2 seconds) staccato chuckle.