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The Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus) is of the family Acrididae which is in the genus Myrmeleotettix.
This small species (length 12-19mm) occurs across the Palearctic region. There are a number of colour variations and the pronotum side keels are strongly indented. Females have thickened antennae tips where as the males have noticeably clubbed antennae.
In late spring, nymphs begin to emerge from egg pods containing a cluster of eggs which were buried by the female the previous autumn in undisturbed grassland. After a number of moults, the nymphs become adults from early July. Mating and egg laying then takes place up until late October, when the adults die off. The next generation, which are over wintering in their egg pods, will hatch out as nymphs the following spring.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds