Lesser Marsh Grasshopper

The Lesser Marsh Grasshopper is a small, often overlooked insect found in damp grasslands, marsh edges and heathland fringes.

In the New Forest, it thrives in areas where moisture and a mix of grasses create ideal conditions. It is usually identified by its soft, repetitive song rather than its appearance.

Its presence is a good indicator of healthy, unimproved grassland habitats – something the New Forest’s traditional grazing and land management help to maintain.

Although not rare, the Lesser Marsh Grasshopper plays an important role in the ecosystem, contributing to the food web and reflecting the quality of the Forest’s wetland and pasture habitats.