Meadow Grasshopper

Chorthippus parallelus

Common & widespread around Britain.

Females grow to approximately 2 centimetres (3⁄4 in) and are larger and less active than Males, which grow to approximately 1.5 centimetres (5⁄8 in).

Both sexes are flightless.

In Females the wing cases (covering vestigial wings) extend only a short way down the abdomen, whereas in Males, the wing cases extend almost to the tip of the abdomen.

Their colour can vary with green, brownish, purple-red and pink forms having been recorded, although green forms are most common.

Colour forms are genetically determines and some populations can show high frequency of pink Grasshoppers.