Common Field Grasshopper: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Beetles and Friends · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Most are brown, but this grasshopper comes in many colours: some are black, green, purple or even white.
2. It sings by rubbing tiny pegs against its wings. Its usual song is 5 to 12 short notes, followed by a 3-second rest.
3. When two rival males meet, they take turns singing, louder and louder. That is why in French it is called the duettist grasshopper.
4. Females are the giants of this species: on average they grow 3 to 4 times bigger than the males.
5. On a warm day, you can get one to sing back just by copying the male's song, even badly.

The quiz

1. Which colour is the common field grasshopper most often?

• Bright blue
• Brown (correct)
• Yellow with spots
• Red

It is mostly brown, though it can be other colours too.

2. How does the grasshopper make its song?

• By clicking its jaws
• By blowing air through its body
• By rubbing tiny pegs against its wings (correct)
• By tapping its feet on the ground

It rubs a row of pegs against its wing covers.

3. What do two rival males do when they meet?

• Sing in turns, filling each other's pauses (correct)
• Fall completely silent
• Fly far away at once
• Dig into the soil

Rival males sing in the pauses of each other's song.

4. How do females compare in size with males?

• They are much smaller
• Exactly the same size
• Slightly smaller
• 3 to 4 times bigger (correct)

Females average 3 to 4 times the size of males.

5. On a warm day, how can you get this grasshopper to sing?

• By clapping loudly
• By copying the male's song (correct)
• By shining a torch
• By offering it grass

Even a rough copy of the male's song can set it singing.

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