Heath Grasshopper vs Red Poplar Leaf Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Heath Grasshopper Red Poplar Leaf Beetle
Scientific Name Chorthippus vagans Chrysomela populi
Order Orthoptera Coleoptera
Family Acrididae Chrysomelidae
Size 12-18mm 10-12 mm
Habitat Heathland Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe Europe, Asia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Heath Grasshopper

A small brown grasshopper confined to heathland. One of the rarest grasshoppers in Britain.

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Did You Know?

Confined to a handful of heathland sites in Dorset and threatened by heathland loss and scrub encroachment.

Red Poplar Leaf Beetle

A shiny red-orange beetle with a black head, commonly found on poplar and willow trees. Larvae release a pungent salicylaldehyde when disturbed.

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Did You Know?

Larvae convert compounds from willow leaves into a chemical that smells like almonds to deter predators.