On Friday I gave you a bit of a change from museum specimens and presented you with this:

Everyone managed to get the identification to at least within the Order level (it’s in the Orthoptera), which is good going when dealing with insects. The hard bit came down to whether it was a cricket or grasshopper. Now, the photo does not show the most important feature for distinguish between these two types of orthopteran: it’s the antennae length that gives it away (grasshoppers have short antennae, crickets have long antennae). Colour is not really important (sorry KateKatV).

That said, the vivid green colour, speckled appearance, lack of wings and characteristics shape of the ovipositor (curved bit at the back which means this is a female) are a give-away for those who are familiar with this particular beastie (and for those who use Google image to help with their identifications). It is in fact a speckled bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) as correctly identified by Jim, to whom kudos is due.

So well done to everyone who had a go at identifying this one – you all did well!

I wonder what this Friday will hold in store?