August 2011: Wildlife experts estimate that at least 340kg of grasshoppers and crickets are living in one field of a Worcestershire nature reserve.
CRICKET GROUND: Roesel's bush crickets are among those that have been found in the nature reserve
Volunteers have counted an average of five grasshoppers and crickets per square metre in a field at Hill Court Farm nature reserve near Longdon in the south of the county. Based on this count, this one field alone, at more than 22 hectares in size, is home to over 1,136,500 grasshoppers and crickets.
Rob Allen, conservation officer for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust which owns the nature reserve, said: ‘When we bought the reserve ten years ago the land was being used as an intensive dairy and arable farm. We've been working hard to recreate grazing marshes, wetlands and wildlife-friendly farmland.
‘Some of the species we're trying to encourage to return to the land are seriously affected by human disturbance so the nature reserve isn't generally open to the public.
‘We've recently had reports of many grassland insects on the reserve - some rarities as well as these fantastic numbers of grasshoppers and crickets.'
Some newcomers to the county
‘We think that an average grasshopper weighs around 300mg, crickets a little more. That equates to more than 340kg in just one field.'
Among the several species of grasshoppers and crickets found have been Roesel's bush cricket and long-winged coneheads. These are both relative newcomers to the county, having travelled north from the continent in the last couple of decades.
Another very new species to the county is Corizus hyoscyami. This red and black bug is usually found in sandy habitats of southern England but is now regularly being found inland, although few have been recorded in Worcestershire.
Rob continued: ‘We've also recently had a record of a six-belted clearwing moth. These scarce but attractive insects are associated with bird's-foot trefoil, one of their foodplants. The pupae live underground among the roots of the plant and need large areas of uncultivated flower-rich grassland.
‘The insect life found here is very promising for the future; a healthy insect population is part and parcel of a diverse ecosystem and well-functioning food-chain.'
Volunteers have counted an average of five grasshoppers and crickets per square metre in a field at Hill Court Farm nature reserve near Longdon in the south of the county. Based on this count, this one field alone, at more than 22 hectares in size, is home to over 1,136,500 grasshoppers and crickets.
Rob Allen, conservation officer for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust which owns the nature reserve, said: ‘When we bought the reserve ten years ago the land was being used as an intensive dairy and arable farm. We've been working hard to recreate grazing marshes, wetlands and wildlife-friendly farmland.
‘Some of the species we're trying to encourage to return to the land are seriously affected by human disturbance so the nature reserve isn't generally open to the public.
‘We've recently had reports of many grassland insects on the reserve - some rarities as well as these fantastic numbers of grasshoppers and crickets.'
Some newcomers to the county
‘We think that an average grasshopper weighs around 300mg, crickets a little more. That equates to more than 340kg in just one field.'
Among the several species of grasshoppers and crickets found have been Roesel's bush cricket and long-winged coneheads. These are both relative newcomers to the county, having travelled north from the continent in the last couple of decades.
Another very new species to the county is Corizus hyoscyami. This red and black bug is usually found in sandy habitats of southern England but is now regularly being found inland, although few have been recorded in Worcestershire.
NEWCOMER: The Corizus hyoscyami
Rob continued: ‘We've also recently had a record of a six-belted clearwing moth. These scarce but attractive insects are associated with bird's-foot trefoil, one of their foodplants. The pupae live underground among the roots of the plant and need large areas of uncultivated flower-rich grassland.
‘The insect life found here is very promising for the future; a healthy insect population is part and parcel of a diverse ecosystem and well-functioning food-chain.'
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