Roofus Grasshopper (Gomphocerippus rufus)


 The rufous grasshopper is a medium-sized, broad, brown, 'short-horned' grasshopper with clubbed antennae that are tipped with a conspicuous white or pale colour. It is fairly large, averaging 14 to 22 mm in length. It can be encountered from late July through mid-December, usually in dry or slightly moist habitats. The environments in which it typically resides include dry grassland on calcareous soils, sheltered valleys with scrub, and the open borders of forests. It feeds on grasses and various herbaceous plants. It is known for its distinctive courtship song and accompanying display. The rufous grasshopper is usually found in open land, particularly terrain such as meadows, pastures, and forest edges that feature tall grass. More specifically, it can often be found in chalk grassland.

Males range from 14 to 16 mm, while females range from 17 to 22 mm. The coloration is usually shades of brown but features some grey, yellow, and red. The mature male has an abdomen tipped with orange-red. The female has similar coloration, but it is much less pronounced than in males. Some females are reddish-purple. The forewings are longer in the males, where they reach just beyond the primary joint of the hind legs than in the females, where they fall short of this joint.



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