Hello
I'm hoping that someone may be able to identify this lovely bug. Have searched online with little success. I believe it's a short-horned grasshopper and it measured 51/2 inches (roughly)-it got away safely. Thanks in advance.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/attac...1&d=1315576880

So glad to hear he got away safely. He's my old mate Jiminy Cricket.
ciao for now,
'o nonno

WAX ON WAX OFF grasshopper

its a mantis i reckon - i have loads, praying and/or not

Thanks for replies-will look up mantis

Anybody know what this is the please??

No idea but I'm glad it's not in my house.

Had quite a few locusts one year here and I once walked into my bathroom and a fat scorpion was in the middle of the floor. I put a glass over it and waited for my boyfriend to arrive and get it outside. I was too scared to touch it. I didn't know then that it wouldn't have had much of a sting if any.

No-it's not a mantis wrong shaped head at least

Don't know really but the long antennae would suggest -a cricket?

I have 2 books on Mediterranean plants and wildlife in Italy, will look it up for you when I return to Italy.
We had a huge moth in the house-wing span 10 cm a week ago and we identified it from the book.

This bug is called EPHIPPIGER and is recognized by the saddle like plate that covers its thorax. The females have the long curvy tail and this is the cricket that makes the noise tzi-tzi on hot summer days.


As for the green grasshopper/cricket that Conniewalker was asking about, there is no info in my book. I have seen them in the garden hidding under leaves, they are so unusually long and slim and look like a palm leaf.

Many thanks for taking the time. I went to look for it again the following morning, only to find one of it's back legs, the rest being a tasty morsel in the night - probably for our resident cinghiale!