Orthopteran Collection

Schistocerca gregaria, desert locust
A desert locust perching on a branch. Locusts sometimes swarm to form groups of up to 80 million and can migrate over large distances

A Selection of Museum Specimens
Specimens here include an Entomological tray of insect from the order Orthoptera, a herbarium sheet from Cooks first voyage collected in New South Wales, Australia in 1770 and fish specimens

Melanoplus spretus. Rocky mountain locust
A specimen of the Rocky mountain locust, also called the Rocky mountain grasshopper (Melanoplus spretus). This species that once inhabited the eastern slopes of the Rockies is now extinct

Schizodactylus monstrosus, monstrous dune cricket
Photograph of Schizodactylus monstrosus

Gryllus sp. cricket head views
Watercolour and ink by J. Hayes, from Drawings of insects from Bengal and other parts of India. Thomas Hardwicke Collection; 1820 Date: 1820

Orthopteran. Leaves

Female cave cricket from above

Bush cricket shedding its skin C016 / 7741
Bush cricket shedding its skin

Bush cricket shedding its skin C016 / 7761
Bush cricket (family Tettigoniidae) shedding its skin. Photographed in Yasuni National Park, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

Tropical grasshoppers mating C016 / 7738
Tropical grasshoppers (order Orthoptera) mating on a leaf. Photographed in Yasuni National Park, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

Tropical grasshoppers mating C016 / 7763
Tropical grasshoppers (order Orthoptera) mating on a leaf. Photographed in Yasuni National Park, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

Grasshopper head. Close-up of the head of a grasshopper (order Orthoptera), showing one of its compound eyes (black). Magnification: x33, when printed 10 centimetres wide

Speckled bush-cricket nymph on nettle leaves. Dorset, UK July 2012

Common blue damselfly C016 / 2177
Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). This damselfly is common throughout all of Europe, except for Iceland. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Grasshopper C016 / 2216
Grasshopper. Profile view of a grasshopper (order odonata). Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Toad grasshopper C016 / 2212
Toad grasshopper. Profile view of an Ocnerodes brunneri toad grasshopper (family Pamphagidae). Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Damselfly C016 / 2217
Damselfly. View of the upper side of a damselfly (suborder Zygoptera). Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Grasshopper C016 / 2259
Grasshopper. Profile view of a brown grasshopper (order Orthoptera). Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Leaf mimic katydids C017 / 6810
Leaf mimic katydids. Female leaf mimic katydid (bush cricket, family Tettigoniidae) with a smaller male prior to mating. The wings of these insects closely resemble dead leaves

Tropical grasshopper in a rainforest C016 / 7768
Tropical grasshopper (order Orthoptera) in a rainforest. Photographed in Yasuni National Park, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador

Grasshopper C016 / 2092
Grasshopper (subfamily Calliptaminae) with its wings spread. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Egyptian locust C016 / 2078
Egyptian locust (Anacridium aegyptium). This insect is one of the largest European grasshoppers and is found throughout most of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, the Near East, and North Africa

Egyptian locust C016 / 2077
Egyptian locust (Anacridium aegyptium). This insect is one of the largest European grasshoppers and is found throughout most of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, the Near East, and North Africa

House cricket C016 / 2067
House cricket (Acheta domesticus). This insect is thought to be native to Southwestern Asia, but has spread worldwide. Specimen obtained from the University of Valencia, Spain

Great green bush cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) on a plant. This species of bush cricket, or katydid, (family Tettigoniidae) is found from Europe to Mongolia, especially in meadows, grasslands

Saw-tailed bush cricket (Barbitistes obtusus) on a plant. This species of bush cricket, or katydid, (family Tettigoniidae) prefers lightly shaded woods and scrubland. Photographed in Poland

Dark bush cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera) on a leaf. This insect is a flightless species of bush cricket, or katydid, (family Tettigoniidae)

Green mountain grasshoppers mating
Green mountain grasshoppers (Miramella alpina) mating. This common alpine grasshopper is present in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Switzerland

Sickle-bearing bush cricket (Phaneroptera falcata) on a plant. Photographed in Poland

Bush cricket on a leaf
Bush cricket (family Tettigoniidae) on a leaf. Photographed in South China

Grasshopper. View of the upper side of a Titanacris velasquezi grasshopper with its wings spread. This specimen was found in Mexico, and has a wingspan of 17cm

Milkweed locust. View of the upper side of a Milkweed locust (Phymateus morbillosus) with its wings spread. This specimen was found in South Africa, and has a wingspan of 13cm

Tropical grasshopper
Giant cockroach. View of the upper side of a Blaberus giganteus cockroach with its wings spread. This insect is endemic to the rainforests of Central America and northern South America

Desert locust C016 / 5620
Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria). Overhead view with wings outstretched from the collections of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Bush cricket shedding its skin C013 / 8863
Bush cricket (family Tettigoniidae) shedding its skin. Photographed in the Jama Coaque Reserve, Manabi Province, Western Ecuador

Stethophyma grossum, large marsh grasshopper. Male specimen

Mallophora infernalis, robber flies
Robber fly, male and female captured in Brazil carrying a katydid as prey (seen underneath). Specimens held at the Natural History Museum, London

Calymene blumenbachii, locust trilobite
Specimens of locust tribolites (Calymene blumenbachii) from Silurian, Wenlock Limestone, Dudley, West Midlands

Ornithacris pictula magnifica, locust
A locust with its elytra open and wings spread. Locusts sometimes swarm to form groups of up to 80 million and can migrate over large distances

Locust model on display in the Creepy Crawlies gallery at the Natural History Museum, London

Colourful illustration of two fish and a grasshopper
Plate 33 from Louis Renards Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes, Vol 2, 1754. This was the earliest known work on fish to be produced in colour

Colourful illustration of two crabs and a grasshopper
Plate 37 from Louis Renards Poissons, Ecrevisses et Crabes, Vol 2, 1754. This was the earliest known work on fish to be produced in colour

Grasshopper collection with carpet beetle (Anthrenus scrophularia) damage to some of the specimens

Acrididae, grasshopper
A young grasshopper feeding on a leaf blade. There are eleven native species of grasshopper in Britain, which vary in size from 20 to 30mms

Grasshoppers
grashoppers in a line

Egyptian grasshopper. Immature adult Egyptian grasshopper, or Egyptian locust, (Anacridium aegyptium) on a flower. Photographed in Umbria, Italy

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Orthopterans, a fascinating group of insects, encompass various species such as the Schistocerca gregaria, commonly known as the desert locust. These creatures have caused havoc throughout history with their swarming behavior and insatiable appetite for crops. In museums worldwide, you can find an impressive collection specimens that showcase their diverse forms and intricate details. One example is the Gryllus sp. , where head views of crickets reveal their unique features and adaptations for producing sound. Another notable specimen is the Melanoplus spretus, also known as the Rocky mountain locust. Once abundant in North America, this species faced extinction due to human activities and habitat loss. The Schizodactylus monstrosus adds a touch of peculiarity to this group with its monstrous appearance. This dune cricket's elongated body and long legs allow it to navigate sandy environments effortlessly. Leaves play a crucial role in an orthopteran's life cycle; they serve as both food sources and hiding places from predators. Observing these insects amidst lush foliage provides insight into their ecological interactions within ecosystems. A female cave cricket seen from above showcases its unique anatomy adapted for living in dark caverns. Its long antennae aid in navigating through pitch-black environments while searching for mates or prey. Witnessing a bush cricket shedding its skin is truly remarkable; captured moments like C016 / 7741 and C016 / 7761 display this process up close. Shedding allows them to grow larger while discarding old exoskeletons that no longer accommodate their expanding bodies. In tropical regions, one might stumble upon mesmerizing scenes of mating tropical grasshoppers (C016 / 7738 & C016 / 7763). These colorful insects engage in elaborate courtship rituals before reproducing—a testament to nature's diversity and complexity. Orthopterans captivate us with their incredible adaptations, behaviors, and ecological roles.