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Meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)

''Chorthippus parallelus'', the ''meadow grasshopper'', is a common species of grasshopper found in non-arid grasslands throughout the well vegetated areas of Europe and some adjoining areas of Asia. It is a well-studied organism in the discipline of Evolutionary biology and was an early and important model system for the study of European phylogeography.

Appearance▲ Back to top

Meadow Grasshopper face Dutch name: Krasser Chorthippus parallelus,Geotagged,Meadow Grasshopper,The Netherlands
Females grow to approximately 2 cm and are larger and less active than males that grow to approximately 1.5 cm. Both sexes are flightless. In females the wing cases extend only a short way down the abdomen while males have longer wing cases extending to almost the tip of the abdomen. They can be variable in colour with green, brownish, purple-red and pink forms recorded, although green forms are most common. Colour forms are genetically determined and some populations can show high frequency of pink grasshoppers.

''Chorthippus parallelus'' is told from similar species by the approximately parallel nature of the bars on the back of the neck which gives the species its name.

Distribution▲ Back to top

Hopping the meadows Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean- the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down- who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Canon EF12mm II,Chorthippus parallelus,Geotagged,HDR,The Netherlands,grasshopper,macro,soligor 12mm,soligor 20mm,soligor 36mm
The range of the Meadow Grasshopper extends from the Atlantic coast of Europe to the Urals. It is found from Scandinavia in the north to southern Spain and Anatolia in the south. It prefers moist vegetation and in southern regions is typically found in river valleys and at altitude , not being found in arid areas.
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