Telford - Lesser Marsh Grasshopper

With the Short-winged Coneheads under my belt, a nearby spot for Lesser Marsh Grasshopper (Chorthippus albomarginatum) was explored. This species is also relatively new in Shropshire after an initial discovery in 2013. They were there but hard work to photograph and most were hunkered down in the long grass.

See what I mean! The dorsal view isn't the most aesthetic angle but allows a good assessment of the pronotum shape which as seen here very slightly incurved, only Meadow Grasshopper comes close to this! 

These first two images are of a male which also has longer antennae than the female.

A female with short antennae and another useful pointer is the very clear white stripe on the leading edge of the forewing (hence C. albomarginata)

Despite the grass environment, she hopped onto this stone for a much better view.

What an excellent Orthoptera result on a largely cloudy afternoon!!