Status of Nottinghamshire Orthoptera

Greenhouse Camel Cricket Tachycines asynamorus (Adelung, 1902)

A single record from a glasshouse at Lenton, c1965.

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Oak Bush Cricket Meconema thalassinum (De Geer, 1773)

Known from ten 10k squares, scattered throughout the county. Easily overlooked because of its colour and nocturnal habits and not picked up by bat detectors, but numerous at some sites, e.g. The Birklands.

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Southern Oak Bush Cricket Meconema meridionale (Costa, 1860)

First seen in the UK in 2001 and now naturalised in southern counties. One at Bilborough on 09/09/07 was the most northerly UK record at that time. We are aware of no other records until examples found by Tim Sexton at Nottingham University (Highfields) on 02/10/17 and at Attenborough NR on 10/10/17.

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Dark Bush Cricket Pholidoptera griseoaptera (De Geer, 1773)

Three records. Recorded historically from Thorney before 1916, with more recent records from along the Bingham Linear Park (till 2003 and not since) and from two sites at Weston in 2013 and still present in 2022. It has recently been found at Kirton Wood, so is certainly unrecorded at other Nottinghamshire sites.

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Roesel's Bush Cricket Roeseliana roeselii (Hagenbach, 1822)

First recorded in 2006 at Barton in Fabis. Still spreading (but more slowly than the next species) and known from ten 10k squares by 2013, as far north as Cottam and Bevercotes.

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Long-winged Conehead Conocephalus fuscus (Fabricius, 1793)

First found in 2007 at Keyworth Meadow and recorded from four other sites during the same year. Spreading rapidly and known from eighteen 10k squares by 2013, as far north as Misson Carr NR. Likely to be present throughout the county in suitable habitat.

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Short-winged Conehead Conocephalus dorsalis (Latreille, 1804)

Although there are numerous records from those counties surrounding Nottinghamshire, Short-winged Conehead remains known from only a handful of sites across Nottinghamshire. It was first recorded from Attenborough NR and the East Bridgford side of the River Trent at Gunthorpe in 2011, then from Bevercotes Pit Wood and Cottam in 2014 and Kilvington West Lake in 2015. The county recorder has recently supplied some additional Short-winged Conehead records from Stapleford (moorbridge Lane Welands North LWS) in 2019 and again in 2022. In 2023 it was found in good numbers at Penny Pasture Common, Eakring Meadows.

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Speckled Bush Cricket Leptophyes punctatissima (Bosc, 1792)

Pre-1916 records from four sites, including Treswell Wood, where still present. Modern records from eleven 10k squares, of which eight have been found since 2006, so apparently increasing in range.

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House Cricket Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Formerly widespread in heated premises such as hospitals and bakeries, even underground in coal mines. Now very occasional, with the most recent records from Beeston in 2003, Upper Saxondale ca 2006 and Ruddington in 2011.

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Slender Groundhopper Tetrix subulata (Linnaeus, 1758)

First recorded at West Burton in 1987. Now widespread, though still easily overlooked, with records from fifteen 10k squares.

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Common Groundhopper Tetrix undulata (Sowerby, 1806)

More localised than the above species; known from only seven 10k squares, three of which are in the Sherwood Forest area.

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Stripe-winged Grasshopper Stenobothrus lineatus (Panzer, 1796)

Its discovery at Budby Common in 1999 came as a surprise as the nearest known sites are in East Anglia. Still present in some numbers at Budby and a nearby area of The Birklands.

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Common Green Grasshopper Omocestus viridulus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Widespread but rather localised, though common in some habitats such as grassy heathland. Modern records from fifteen 10k squares, mainly in the western half of the county.

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Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus (Thunberg, 1815)

Common and widespread, even penetrating into built-up areas. Recorded in all 10k squares that are completely within the county, with the exception of SK76.

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Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821)

More specialised than the above in its habitat requirements, so not so widespread, with modern records from 16 widely-scattered 10k squares.

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Lesser Marsh Grasshopper Chorthippus albomarginatus (De Geer, 1773)

First recorded at Holme Pierrepont GPs in 2000 and has spread rapidly throughout the county, where it has been recorded in all of the complete 10k squares. Likely to be the most numerous orthopteran in Nottinghamshire.

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Mottled Grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunberg, 1815)

Local, with modern records from only seven 10k squares, mainly in the Sherwood Forest area. Not recorded in the south of the county. Occurs mainly on heathland and in re-stocked plantations, where it can be numerous.

Accidentals, escapes and casual Orthoptera recorded in Nottinghamshire

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Cricket sp Gryllus sp

One found in an Eastwood garden in 1997 was thought to be a Field Cricket Gryllus campestris, but is much more likely to have been a Southern Field Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, which is sometimes kept as pet food.

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Egyptian Grasshopper Anacridium aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1758)

Singles recorded in 1902 and 1912.

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Desert Locust Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal, 1775)

Recorded in 1869.

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Migratory Locust Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Four historical records, in 1880, 1882 and two undated.

The current status of Nottinghamshire Orthoptera
Nottinghamshire Crickets and Grasshoppers