To make matters more difficult, there are considerable variations within some species, which is another factor hindering those wishing to identify them. A net is therefore recommended for capture and study, although my wife did become extremely adept at their capture using a small plastic container.

Recent years have seen the Nottinghamshire Orthoptera list increase with the arrival of three new species.

The Lesser Marsh Grasshopper first appeared in Nottinghamshire in 2000 and is now described as being widespread and common at many sites; Roesel's Bush Cricket arrived in the county by the A453 near Clifton during 2006 and was then found at Collingham, Stoke Bardolph and Langford Lowfields in August 2007. The same month also saw Nottinghamshire's first record of Long-winged Cone-head at Keyworth Meadow in the far south of the county.

Perhaps the most restricted species in the county is the Stripe-winged Grasshopper, which is only to be found at Budby Common. The Speckled Bush Cricket is now known from four sites in Notts, whilst the House Cricket is very rarely reported now.

My thanks must go to Roy Frost (the Orthoptera recorder for Nottinghamshire) for checking the photos below, ensuring that the identifications of the species featured are correct and for providing information regarding the status of some of the rarer Crickets and Grasshoppers across Nottinghamshire.