A very large bush-cricket, the Great Green Bush-cricket certainly lives up to its name! It lives in trees and on grassland dotted with patches of scrub, eating vegetation and other insects. Great Green Bush-crickets prefer light, dry soils into which the females can lay their eggs using their long, down-curved ovipositors. The males display to females by producing a very loud, long 'song' by rubbing their forewings together. They sound like a sewing machine, going continuously for long periods, but their expert camouflage still makes them hard spot. Nymph, as in picture, do not have wings.
The Wildlife Trusts manage many grassland and woodland edge habitats sympathetically for the benefit of all kinds of insects, including the Great Green Bush-cricket. Careful grazing with traditional breeds, hay-cutting at the right time and scrub clearance are just some of the ways grasslands are kept in good condition - supporting invertebrates and, in turn, the larger animals that prey on them. By volunteering for your local Trust you can help too, and you'll make new friends and learn new skills along the way.
