# Great Green Bush-cricket (*Tettigonia viridissima*) The Great Green Bush-cricket is a bright green insect that loves to hop around in grass and bushes. They make a lovely chirping sound, especially in the summer, and can be found in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Green Bush-cricket ![Great Green Bush-cricket](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Tettigonia_viridissima_on_Avena_fatua.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Tettigonia_viridissima_on_Avena_fatua.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Green Bush-cricket is strikingly bright green, often with a narrow reddish-brown stripe along its back. It has incredibly long, thread-like antennae that can be twice its body length, and powerful hind legs for jumping. Its long, translucent wings extend well past its abdomen. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Orthoptera - **Family:** Tettigoniidae - **Genus:** Tettigonia ## Interesting facts - Despite their name, they are more closely related to cave crickets than true crickets! - Females have a long, sword-like "ovipositor" to lay eggs safely in plants. - Its super long antennae are often twice as long as its whole body! - The Great Green Bush-cricket's ears are actually located on its front legs! ## Special abilities - **Stealthy Camouflage:** Great Green Bush-cricket has a vibrant green body that helps them perfectly blend into leaves and grass, making them hard to spot. - **Powerful Leaper:** Great Green Bush-cricket can jump incredibly far using its strong hind legs, which helps them escape from predators quickly. - **Ultrasonic Chatterbox:** Great Green Bush-cricket males can create a loud, continuous chirping sound by rubbing their wings together, helping them find mates. - **Keen Hearing:** Great Green Bush-cricket has special "ears" on its front legs that help them detect sounds, including other crickets' calls. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 28-42 mm - **Lifespan:** 60-90 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This cricket enjoys munching on plants and occasionally tiny insects! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat more plants, while adults add more small insects to their diet. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Flowers, Aphids, Small caterpillars, Flies - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — A common predator in gardens and woodlands. - **Eaten by:** Common Pipistrelle (*Pipistrellus pipistrellus*) — Bats use echolocation to hunt them at night. - **Hunts:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Helps control garden pests by hunting aphids. - **Eats:** Stinging Nettle (*Urtica dioica*) — Feeds on the leaves of this common plant. ## Traits - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These insects are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Green Bush-cricket? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Great Green Bush-cricket's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Great Green Bush-cricket? 28-42 mm ### How long does Great Green Bush-cricket live? 60-90 days ### What does Great Green Bush-cricket eat? This cricket enjoys munching on plants and occasionally tiny insects! ### Where is Great Green Bush-cricket usually found? Grasslands ### How does Great Green Bush-cricket hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Great Green Bush-cricket have? 6 ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Great Green Bush-cricket: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-green-bush-cricket)