Chorthippus biguttulus

Chorthippus biguttulus
Chorthippus biguttulus female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Family:	Acrididae
Subfamily:	Gomphocerinae
Genus:	Chorthippus
Species:	C. biguttulus
Binomial name
Chorthippus biguttulus

Chorthippus biguttulus, the Bow-winged grasshopper, is one of the most common species of grasshopper found in the dry grassland of northern and central Europe.^[1] It is part of a group of species (biguttulus-group) that are very difficult to identify morphologically. Chorthippus biguttulus was previously classified (with C. brunneus and C. mollis) as a single species Stauroderus variabilis. The three species were distinguished using song characteristics. ^[2]

Distribution

The range of the Bow-winged grasshopper extends from the Finland and Scandinavia in the north to the Alps and Pyrenees in the south.

Physical appearance

Female Chorthippus biguttulus.

Male Chorthippus biguttulus.

Females grow to approximately 2cm and are larger than males that grow to approximately 1.5cm. Males often have a red tip to the abdomen while females do not. They can be extremely variable in colour from green to black-brown to rose.

References

1. ^ Bellmann, Heiko (1988-05-05). Field Guide to the Grasshoppers and Crickets of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins. ISBN 0002198525. 
2. ^ Ramme, W (1921). "Orthopterologische Beitrage". Arch. Naturgesch. 86: 81–166.