Heath Grasshopper vs Rainbow Grasshopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Heath Grasshopper | Rainbow Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chorthippus vagans | Dactylotum variegatum |
| Order | Orthoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Acrididae | Acrididae |
| Size | 12-18mm | 20-30mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Heath Grasshopper
A small brown grasshopper confined to heathland. One of the rarest grasshoppers in Britain.
Did You Know?
Confined to a handful of heathland sites in Dorset and threatened by heathland loss and scrub encroachment.
Rainbow Grasshopper
A small short-winged grasshopper brightly patterned in red, orange, blue, and black. Despite its vivid warning colors, it is not actually toxic. It is slow-moving and easy to observe.
Did You Know?
Its striking rainbow coloring is a bluff; it has no toxins but mimics the appearance of genuinely poisonous insects.