Bask in the thought of warmer days to come by visiting our new website page on grasshoppers, bush-crickets, ground-hoppers and allied species that include earwigs and cockroaches.

County orthoptera recorder Ian Carle has written and designed the guide to 22 species that can be seen in Hertfordshire. Its linked to a downloadable identification guide to the grasshoppers and bush-crickets that is beautifully illustrated with his own photographs.

Ian's guide includes expert information on life-cycles, including photographs of instars and nymphs as well as adults.

Photo: Stripe-winged Grasshopper photographed (© Ian Carle) photographed at Heartwood