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Project Noah Nature School
Metrioptera roeseli f. diluta
One possibility to know about would be climate condition like dry or more wet condition, that would influence food availability.
Wow!! Deep stuff.. this is fascinating! I don't know enough about insects to give a good response unfortunately, I am just beginning my studies. But London is the most bizarre place I have lived for nature, urban wildlife can get very confused when you think of all the different factors involved to do with a high density of human pollution and population affecting the other animals trying to co-exist or live within the city. Every time I see a fox in London for example I feel so sad - they resemble wild dogs like dingos. The ones I am used to from Yorkshire are almost a completely different species - from behavior to physical features. Insects must be a WHOLE other ball game - so many factors!
Welcome! It is a very intersting finding if you look at the other pictures with the usual short wings. I do not exactly know why there are two forms. It is suggested that some hormones in the last instar would determine the wing form. But why?? One reason which came to my mind: Too much short winged (female?) species in one area, meaning too less food for everybody, so why not moving in another area. Or too many wild males in one (maybe "closed") area, so why not getting rid of them by escaping? But how do they know there are too many??? That's just a little and easy thinking about a nature behaviour which always has some deeper reasons ;-)...
It is the variety with long wings!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20427639@N0...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Metrio...
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/displa...
Plus, it's a female. You can see her curved ovipositor at the end of her abdomen. That is a really nice spotting! You've managed to find some terrific insects in London... just goes to show you never know what you will find if you just look. I would add both of those spottings to the mission called Urban Biodiversity: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/3501...
Wow, that's gorgeous! It's a kind of Katydid, from the family Tettigoniidae. I have no idea if it should be in the UK or not, ours are much plainer, and a simple green color.
Spotted on Jul 28, 2011
Submitted on Apr 25, 2012
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