ORTHOPTERA > ENISFERA > Tettigoniidae (Bush-crickets)

A small to medium-sized, short-winged flightless species with widespread distribution across most of southern and central Britain. Their overall size (head to tip of abdomen) varies, with the slightly smaller males averaging around 12mm, but can be up to 16mm, and the females normally a little larger plus the length of their ovipositor that can add a further 6 or 7mm. The species is pretty consistent in appearance with a rounded back, very short forewings, no hind wings, and long spindly legs. They are well camouflaged having a bright emerald green colour that is covered with tiny black speckles. Fully mature males have brown forewings and a dorsal stripe running down the abdomen. Adult females and young males are almost entirely green. Gravid females have a particularly, hump-backed appearance.

Leptophyes punctatissima may be active at any time of the day or night but, as with most bush-crickets, are likely to be more nocturnal through the hotter summer months. The attractive nymphs of this species start emerging in May and, with a keen eye, can be seen during woodland walks through May and June. The adults won't appear until August, but are typically hard to find at this time as they often climb up into trees. Later in the season they are more likely to be encountered in bushes, with mid-September to late October probably being the best time to see them.

They are known to have a strong association with brambles, so mixed scrub and overgrown hedges alongside woodland rides or around parks is a good place to look. However, they may well turn up in gardens which, at the time of writing, is certainly where I've seen most of the adults I've tried to photograph.