Omocestus rufipes

Omocestus rufipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Orthoptera
Family:	Acrididae
Genus:	Omocestus
Species:	O. rufipes
Binomial name
Omocestus rufipes (Zetterstedt, 1821)
Synonyms
Chorthippus zetterstedti Fieber, 1852 Acridium viridulum (Welmael, 1838) Gryllus rufipes Zetterstedt, 1821 Locusta miniata Stephens, 1835 Oedipoda cruentata Brullé, 1832

Omocestus rufipes, the 'Woodland Grasshopper', is a species of 'short-horned grasshoppers' belonging to the family Acrididae subfamily Gomphocerinae.

This grasshopper is present in most of Europe, in eastern Palearctic ecozone, in North Africa and in the Near East.

Omocestus rufipes, dorsal view

The adult males grow up to 11–17 millimetres (0.43–0.67 in) long, while the females reach 13–22 millimetres (0.51–0.87 in)of length. They can be encountered from early June through late October in meadows, grasslands and in sunny clearings in woodlands. They mainly feed on grasses and various herbaceous plants.

The basic coloration of the body varies from light brown to blackish. The dorsal side is usually beige in males, brown or green in females. Pronotum has a white edge. In mature adults the underside of the apex of the abdomen is reddish or orange. The apex of the maxillary palps is almost white.

Eggs are laid in clusters just below the surface of the soil or in the roots of plants. Nymphs appear in April or May.

References

• Marshall, J.A. & Haes, E.C.M. (1988): Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland. Harley Books, Colchester. 254 S.
• Nunner, A. (1998): Omocestus rufipes – Buntbäuchiger Grashüpfer. In: Detzel, P.: Die Heuschrecken Baden-Württembergs. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 420–427 S

External links

• Fauna Europaea
• Biolib
• Orthoptera Species
• Www1.osu.cz
• Fungalpunknature