Grasshoppers and crickets are part of the order Orthoptera, which means straight wing in Greek. This order also includes cone-heads, ground hoppers and locusts. There are thousands of orthoptera species in the world, most of these are found in the tropics, but there are about 50 found in Great Britain.

There are many similarities between grasshoppers and crickets, for example

• very long hind legs for jumping
• both produce songs to attract females
• similar life cycles, with no pupal stage

but there are also some differences, which can help you work out if you've spotted a grasshopper or cricket.

Bush-crickets

• Very long antennae
• Bodies usually more chunky
• Female bush-crickets have long ovipositors for laying eggs
• High-pitched and long-lasting songs

Explore some of our bush-crickets

Grasshoppers

• Short, segmented antennae
• Slim bodied
• Female grasshoppers have short ovipositor

Explore some of our grasshoppers

See more grasshoppers and bush-crickets

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