ORTHOPTERA > ENISFERA > Tettigoniidae (Bush-crickets)

Historically this was the rarer of our two native conehead species, only likely to be seen at a few locations along the south coast. The first recorded sighting in Dorset was at Swanage in 1953. Over the following 25-30 years its range didn't change much, but during the 1980's it started to spread inland inhabiting many different areas where there was long grass. Today, it's the more frequently observed of the two species, and can be seen almost anywhere across southern and central England.

When fully grown, Long-winged Coneheads have a body length of 16-22mm and long, slender, straw-coloured wings that invariably extend beyond the tip of the abdomen. Adults are usually green with a prominent dark brown dorsal stripe on the head and thorax, but entirely brown individuals may occasionally be found. The females have long, straight ovipositors, rather than curved as found on the Short-winged Conehead [Conocephalus dorsalis] and both sexes have two or three small black spines underneath the hind femur. Another key difference between the two species is that the male doesn't have any median projections at the end of the abdomen, whereas the males of C.dorsalis have a pair with larger cerci. Whilst C.fuscus is always long-winged, these features are useful in separating the species from any long-winged C.dorsalis individuals.

The nymphs are green with a narrow black dorsal stripe, very similar to C.dorsalis, and are impossible to separate from photos during the earlier stages of development. At the 5th, but more likely the final 6th instar stage, the identity should be clearer. And, of course, knowing the site and the likelihood of the species is a good indicator. They are normally fully mature by mid to late July and, in most years, will survive until the end of October.

Long-winged Coneheads occur in many different habitats where there is long grass or tussocks of rushes from which the males can stridulate. These areas can be as diverse as arable field margins or roadside verges to more likely sites such as bogs and saltmarshes.