Woodland Grasshopper vs Thistle Tortoise Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Woodland Grasshopper | Thistle Tortoise Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Omocestus rufipes | Cassida rubiginosa |
| Order | Orthoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Acrididae | Chrysomelidae |
| Size | 13-22mm | 6-8 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Asia, introduced to New Zealand and North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Woodland Grasshopper
A small dark grasshopper with a distinctive red-tipped abdomen in both sexes. Found in warm sheltered spots.
Did You Know?
Identified by its red-tipped abdomen which is visible even when the grasshopper is hopping away from you.
Thistle Tortoise Beetle
A pale green to yellowish-brown tortoise beetle with a somewhat flattened, circular body. It has been used as a biocontrol agent against invasive thistles in several countries.
Did You Know?
It was deliberately introduced to New Zealand and Canada as a biological control agent to combat invasive thistle species.