England’s Grasshoppers, Groundhoppers and Crickets
England also has 3 species of groundhoppers. These good swimmers are found near ponds and streams, or in less grassy areas.
Most species can fly (apart from common groundhoppers). They mostly live on moss and algae.
The Wildlife Trusts has a good visual guide to know your grasshoppers, groundhoppers and crickets.
How Crickets Can Tell The Temperature!
Those little green insects you see are crickets. If you hear one on a summer evening, know they chirp in time with the air temperature.
Count how many chirps they give in 25 seconds. Divide by 3 and add 4. And apparently this should give you the correct Celsius temperature!
In fields, meadows and even gardens, grasshoppers, groundhoppers and crickets are hard at work. These busy insects are a common sight in England and around the world, each with its own habits and traits, that make them unique.
While it’s easy to group them together, there are key differences that set them apart. Their lives are full of sounds, jumps and close links with nature that many people never notice.
Let’s see what makes each of these similar-looking creatures special and why they deserve a closer look.
Grasshoppers: The Classic Meadow Jumpers
Grasshoppers are probably the most familiar of the three. They have short antennae, strong back legs and a green or brown colour that helps them blend into grassy spaces.
When they jump, it’s like a spring going off. Grasshoppers eat grasses and leafy plants, making them important plant eaters in meadows, parks and gardens.
In England, you might spot the Field Grasshopper, Common Green Grasshopper or Mottled Grasshopper. Their clear, sharp chirps are a classic sound of summer.
Male grasshoppers make this noise by rubbing their legs against their wings, creating a rhythm in the warm air. These insects are also a sign of a healthy environment, as they need clean spaces full of wild plants to thrive.
Groundhoppers: The Tiny, Understated Hoppers!
Groundhoppers are easy to miss. They’re smaller than grasshoppers, often not much longer than a fingernail, and they keep to the ground.
Unlike true grasshoppers, groundhoppers have long antennae and short wings, which means most can’t really fly. Their rough, mottled brown or grey colours help them blend into soil, stones and dead leaves.
These insects don’t sing and aren’t looking for attention. Groundhoppers eat mosses and algae, which puts them in a different food group than their grass-eating cousins.
The Common Groundhopper is the species you’re most likely to find in England. It’s happiest in damp places – by the edge of wildlife-friendly ponds, in boggy marshes or on shaded woodland paths.
Although you might not hear them or see them unless you look closely, groundhoppers add valuable variety to the insect world.
Crickets: Night-time Musicians
Crickets bring their own magic to gardens and fields, especially at dusk. They usually have longer antennae than grasshoppers and a rounder body. Their song is softer than the grasshopper’s, often sounding like a gentle background track on a summer night.
There are different types of crickets in England. The Field Cricket is rare and under threat, while bush crickets are more common and sometimes green, pink or even brown.
Male crickets make music by rubbing their wings together, a little like playing a fiddle. This “chirping” plays a big role in finding a mate and claiming territory.
Crickets eat both plants and small insects, so they help balance the natural food chain.
Living Together: Sharing Meadows and Gardens
While grasshoppers, groundhoppers and crickets look similar, they often live side by side. Each fills a different role in the environment.
Grasshoppers keep grass trimmed, groundhoppers help break down moss and algae, and crickets act as both hunters and grazers. Their habits and tastes don’t overlap much, so they rarely fight for the same food.
You can spot all three if you spend some time in wild spots or even a quiet city park. Watch where you walk and listen closely, and you might notice the jump of a grasshopper, the scurry of a groundhopper or the evening song of a cricket.
Protecting Our Natural Neighbours
These insects do a lot for the land. Grasshoppers and crickets are food for birds, frogs and small mammals. They also help recycle plants and keep the balance in wild spaces.
Changes in farming, pollution and the loss of wild places mean grasshoppers, groundhoppers and crickets need our help to survive.
Even simple things like letting parts of your garden grow wild, leaving patches of long grass or not using too many chemicals can make a big difference.
By giving these small creatures room to live, we help birds and many others that depend on them.
