Field Guide to the Grasshoppers and Allies of Great Britain and Ireland

A beautifully illustrated reference guide that will enable confident identification of British orthoptera.

Grasshoppers are conspicuous for their giant leaping movements, bright colours and song. There has never been a better time to study these insects in Britain: over recent decades, some species have declined, others have expanded their range,s and there have even been new discoveries of species that have come across from mainland Europe.

This pioneering guide lays bare the complexities of identification of the 80 or so species that may be encountered in the British Isles. An engaging introduction explains why orthopteroid insects are so intriguing and rewarding to study, and how the pursuit can take you to visit extraordinary places. The illustrated 'At-a-glance' guide and key to the orders provide a helpful starting point to begin the process of identification, leading to the main species accounts that include details of distinguishing features, life-cycle and habitat, tips for distinguishing between similar species, distribution maps, sonograms and QR codes linking to sound recordings. The text is brought to life with Richard Lewington's meticulous artwork, alongside photographs of the insects in their characteristic habitats.

Designed to be accessible to beginners while also offering plenty of interest to more experienced entomologists, this book is the definitive guide to the Orthoptera of the British Isles.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Why study the orthopteroid insects?
General anatomy
Classification
Key to the orders and suborders of adult orthopteroid insects of Britain and Ireland
Life history
Variation
Feeding
Song: communication through sound
Courtship and mating
Egg-laying
Movement, migration and dispersal
Enemies
Distribution of orthopteroid insects in Great Britain and Ireland
Threats
Conservation
Studying and recording orthopteroid insects
Regional guides
How to use this field guide

Earwigs (order Dermaptera)
Bush-crickets, crickets, grasshoppers and groundhoppers (order Orthoptera)
Cockroaches and termites (order Blattodea)
Mantids (order Mantodea)
Stick-insects (order Phasmida)
Potential new orthopteroid species
Checklist of the orthopteroid insects of Great Britain and Ireland

Useful resources
Glossary
Distribution maps
Photographic credits
Index