French Jura: Orthoptera

July 17-21, 2012:

Much of this area of central France is rich in Orthoptera, especially crickets and grasshoppers. Most grassland and even roadside verges have a large number of individuals, often with a range of species represented. Sub-alpine grassland at the Foret du Risoux was particularly rich. Altogether, at least eight species of grasshopper and four species of cricket were seen and photographed during a five-day period of warm sunny weather. These are shown below.

An adult female Upland Green Bush-cricket (Tettigonia cantans) which is a relative of the Great Green Bush-cricket found in southern England but with broader more rounded wings - Lac de Bellefontaine. A male nymph is shown below.

Upland Green Bush-cricket male nymph

An adult female Roesel's Bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) - La Cure, roadside verge

A male Sepia Bush-cricket (Metrioptera sepium) nymph - Foret du Risoux

Female Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griesoaptera) - Prenanon. Females have only minute forewings

A male Green Mountain Grasshopper (Miramella alpina) - Foret du Risoux

A female Green Mountain Grasshopper (Miramella alpina) - Foret du Risoux

A female Large Gold Grasshopper (Chrysochraon dispar) - La Cure

Small Gold Grasshopper (Chrysochraon brachypterus) - Lac Bellefontaine, male above, female below

Steppe Grasshopper (Chorthippus dorsatus) - La Cure

A female Leek Grasshopper (Mecostethus parapleurus) - Lac Bellefontaine

Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) - Divonne-les-Bains

Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus) - Bois d'Amont

Possibly a nymph of Heath Grasshopper (Chorthippus vagans) - Divonne-les-Bains

Possibly a nymph of Upland Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus apricarius) - Divonne-les-Bains