Worcestershire Record No. 25 November 2008 p. 7

Harry Green

I had hoped to follow-up the reports in previous Worcestershire Record to find out if Roesel’s Bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii and Long-winged Conehead Conocephalus discolor had further extended their range into West Worcestershire. However the wet weather was definitely against me. However I did record both species at a few sites used in 2007 near Pershore. For example on one rare sunny afternoon we heard and saw both species on a sunny road verge near Conderton, on the south side of Bredon Hill. Brett Westwood and I also found many Long-winged Coneheads on the common at Monkwood Green on 28th September. Interestingly Ian Wright sent me records of Roesel’s Bush-crickets at Great Witley in August and October, west of the main records for 2007, and perhaps revealing further spread to the west. Hopefully we can search the western reaches of Worcestershire in 2009.