Omocestus rufipes

Omocestus rufipes, the woodland grasshopper,[2] is a species of short-horned grasshopper belonging to subfamily Gomphocerinae. The Latin species name rufipes means red-foothed, from rufus (red) + pes (foot), with reference to the color of the legs.

Omocestus rufipes
Male
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Caelifera
Family: Acrididae
Genus: Omocestus
Species:
O. rufipes
Binomial name
Omocestus rufipes
(Zetterstedt, 1821)
Synonyms[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, in eastern Palearctic ecozone, in North Africa and in the Near East.[3] In the British Isles this species is restricted to southern England[4] (see map).

These grasshoppers inhabit meadows, grasslands and sunny clearings in woodlands.[5]

Description

The adult males of Omocestus rufipes grow up to 11–17 millimetres (0.43–0.67 in) long, while the females reach 13–22 millimetres (0.51–0.87 in) in length.[5]

The basic coloration of the body varies from light brown to blackish. The dorsal side is usually beige in males, brown or green in females. Pronotum has a white edge. The hindwings are dark in their rear half in the male as in the female. In mature adults the underside of the apex of the abdomen is reddish or orange.

The apex of the maxillary palps is almost white. In males the tip of the abdomen is red. The males always shows red rear tibias and often red rear femurs.[5][6]

Biology

They can be encountered from early June through late October.[6] They mainly feed on grasses and various herbaceous plants.

Eggs are laid in clusters just below the surface of the soil or in the roots of plants. Nymphs appear in April or May.

  • Dorsal view
  • Ventral view
  • Male
  • Female
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References
  1. Biolib
  2. Ragge DR (1965). Grasshoppers, Crickets & Cockroaches of the British Isles. F Warne & Co, London. p. 299.
  3. Fauna europaea
  4. Marshall JA, Haes ECM (1988) Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland Harley Books, Colchester. 254 S.
  5. Ostravské univerzity (in Czech)
  6. Fungal Punk Nature
  • Nunner, A. (1998): Omocestus rufipes – Buntbäuchiger Grashüpfer. In: Detzel, P.: Die Heuschrecken Baden-Württembergs. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 420–427 S
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