Roesel's Bush-cricket

Name: Roesel's Bush-cricket

Scientific name: Metrioptera roeselii

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 70

What are nature stars?

About: Until the early 20th century, Roesel’s bush cricket was only know from the south east coast. Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in its range, particularly travelling along the rough grassland and scrub along the side of motorways!

How to identify: A handsome cricket, dark brown with orangey legs, a green face, a creamy border to the thorax and two or three bright creamy spots on the sides. Best recognised by the song, which is a long, monotonous, mechanical reeling noise.

Where: South east England, spreading north and west.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 30
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 50
• Cute factor: 40
• Traveller: 30

Fantastic fact: The Roesel's Bush Cricket sounds just like a singing Savi's Warbler, a rare bird that nests in reedbeds.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc