ORTHOPTERA > CAELIFERA > Acrididae (Grasshoppers) > Gomphocerinae

The Meadow Grasshopper is a common species that can be found across much of Britain. They are medium-sized having an overall length that ranges from 10-16mm for the male to 17-22mm for the female. Their colour varies, including an almost all-green form where the dorsal surface of the pronotum is uniformly green, a variable green and buff or red-brown form where colours may occur on the back or sides, and a fully brown form with darker markings. Some individuals can be partially pale pink and, for the females, there's a further green form with purple back. The abdomen often has bold black patches on the sides and is typically pale yellow on the underside, which in mature males develops to be both brighter and with more extensive coverage as can be seen in the first photo below.

The pronotal keels are slightly incurved, not as straight as the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper [Chorthippus albomarginatus], but less curved than the other species, which is a useful character to eliminate any possible confusion that may arise purely based on colour.

The smaller males have tiny hidden hindwings, and forewings that usually lay short of the tip of the abdomen. The wings have a distinct costal bulge towards the base of the lower margin, which is a useful feature in comparison with C.albomarginatus where the bulge is barely discernible. The hind 'knees' typically, but not always, have dark markings either side of the femur, and most individuals have a black teardrop-like marking behind the eye giving them a sad, but distinct appearance. The antennae are long and their eyes are large in proportion with the head. The females lack these features, but are easy to distinguish because of their short wings, which only extend to about a third, or at most half, the length of the abdomen. They are our only short-winged flightless grasshopper species, although rare macropterous fully winged forms can occasionally occur.

Meadow Grasshoppers may be found in almost any dry or damp grassy habitat and, where those conditions are favourable, are likely to be in the company of Field Grasshoppers and/or Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers.

The species enjoys a long season with nymphs hatching in April and adults starting to appear in June and typically remaining abundant right through the summer months into September, and occasionally beyond into October or even early November.

Their 'song' has been described as a 'churring' sound made in short 1-3 second bursts that gradually gets louder and is repeated at irregular intervals.