Large Marsh Grasshoppers - Jumping their way back onto the Levels.
The Large Marsh Grasshopper - Stethophyma grossum, is one of many local rarities that we are blessed with on the Somerset Levels. This insect is Britains largest grasshopper, it is also one of the rarest; having suffered catastrophic population decline over the last 40 years.
For the last 20 years, its range has been restricted to the mires of Dorset and the New Forest. In 2019 a small population of these grasshoppers were rediscovered on the Somerset Levels, a previous stronghold, having been absent in recent years.
One of the major reasons for their decline is the way we use our land, in particular; our bogs and mires. These habitats have received a lot of attention in recent years for their ability to store carbon dioxide, and in turn, how they need protecting. Hopefully, with this push to protect these habitats, the Large Marsh Grasshopper will once again be seen across our country.
If you want to read more about these stunning insects and the challenges facing them in the UK, I highly recommend giving this article a read by Tim Gardiner - Into the Valley Mire: Conserving the Large Marsh Grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum) in Southern England.
Today’s conditions were far from perfect for grasshopper hunting - grey skies and a stiff breeze, but we persevered and made our way onto the Levels. Fortunately, we weren’t going in blind, with directions provided in the form of “remember the pitcher plant?” and “where the cotton grass usually is’”, we managed to pin down the exact spot and Elle and I were rewarded with our first Large Marsh Grasshoppers.
I was photographing the first individual, a lovely male posing on the Heather, when Elle pointed out the mating pair that were right next to my knee hiding down in the undergrowth. The mating pair provided a great opportunity to see the size difference between the males and females, with the female being the larger of the two.
The females can grow up to 40mm long, hence their name and title of our largest grasshopper. This is still quite small compared to our largest cricket, the Great-green Bush Cricket, which can grow up to 70mm long!
So despite the weather, we had a very successful few hours with another local rarity in the bag. Hopefully, they will continue to spread and establish themselves as we improve the way we look after our countryside. With thanks to Steve and Graham for helping us on this mission.
