Common Green Grasshopper

Appearance

''O. viridulus'' tend to be green all over, but some may have brown coloration on the sides. In Scandinavia, they tend to have either a green or light brown colour. The males do not have any red coloring on the abdomen and possess a noticeably long ovipositor, characteristics that help distinguish it from the similar species ''O. rufipes'' and ''O. haemorrhoidalis''. The eyes of this species may be either brown or yellow. The typical body length is 17–20 millimetres . They possess a strongly darkened region of the hind wing.

Distribution

''O. viridulus'' typically lives in moderately wet regions around Europe except north of the Arctic Circle, and it is distributed widely over Britain. Its range extends east as far as Siberia and Mongolia. Their preferred habitat consists of areas with longer grass.

Behavior

This species prefers to feed on the more common, abundant grass species and this may promote greater diversity of vegetation. ''O. viridulus'' feeds on grass from the genera ''Dactylis'', ''Agrostis'', ''Anthoxanthum'', ''Lolium'' and ''Holcus''. The life cycle begins with the females laying their clutch of eggs in the top layer of soil or near the root of the grass stalks. The young are called nymphs and emerge the next April. These nymphs resemble miniature versions of the adults with immature wings. After about a month of moulting their exoskeleton several times, they mature into adults with working wings. There is one generation of ''O. viridulus'' a year, and they are usually seen between the months of April and October.

Habitat

''O. viridulus'' typically lives in moderately wet regions around Europe except north of the Arctic Circle, and it is distributed widely over Britain. Its range extends east as far as Siberia and Mongolia. Their preferred habitat consists of areas with longer grass.

Reproduction

Compared to other grasshopper species, the reproductive fitness of ''O. viridulus'' tends to be less affected by temperature changes. It has been found that for female ''O. viridulus'', the number of eggs in each pod, and the mass of eggs were not adversely affected by temperature. In the wild, the males find the females quickly and mate, and the females refrain from singing until they lay at least one cluster of eggs. If the male fails to mate with a female, he will sing before trying again.

Food

This species prefers to feed on the more common, abundant grass species and this may promote greater diversity of vegetation. ''O. viridulus'' feeds on grass from the genera ''Dactylis'', ''Agrostis'', ''Anthoxanthum'', ''Lolium'' and ''Holcus''. The life cycle begins with the females laying their clutch of eggs in the top layer of soil or near the root of the grass stalks. The young are called nymphs and emerge the next April. These nymphs resemble miniature versions of the adults with immature wings. After about a month of moulting their exoskeleton several times, they mature into adults with working wings. There is one generation of ''O. viridulus'' a year, and they are usually seen between the months of April and October.