Marsh Grasshopper
Pseudochorthippus montanus
The Marsh Grasshopper is a medium-sized short-horned grasshopper closely tied to damp or wet habitats such as bogs and wet meadows. The species is morphologically very similar to the Meadow Grasshopper but possesses longer wings and prefers significantly wetter environments. Due to the drainage of wetlands, populations are declining in many parts of Central Europe.
Details
Identification
Wings in females reach almost to the hind knees; pronotal side keels are nearly straight; song is a soft, rhythmic buzzing.
Social behavior
Largely solitary; males exhibit territorial singing behavior to attract mates.
Diet
Herbivorous; primarily feeds on true grasses (Poaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).
Spawning substrate
Moist soil or moss cushions.
Overwintering
Overwintering as an egg in the soil or plant parts.
Ecology
Ecological role
Primary consumer in wetland ecosystems and an important prey source for birds and spiders.
Natural predators
Insectivorous birds, spiders, amphibians, and small mammals.
Competitor species
Pseudochorthippus parallelus (Meadow Grasshopper) in drier marginal areas.
Ecosystem service
Part of the nutrient cycle through the consumption of biomass.
Threats
Melioration (drainage) of wet meadows, intensive grazing, abandonment of mowing, and shrub encroachment.
Scientific profile
Profile
Distinguishing features
The most important feature for differentiation from P. parallelus is the long ovipositor valves of the females, which clearly project beyond the subgenital plate. The wings of the males almost reach the hind knees, while those of the females end approximately at the middle of the hind femora. The metathoracic spiracle is slit-shaped.
Habitat
Highly moisture-dependent habitats: fens, sedge marshes, spring fens, and unmanaged wet meadows. The species prefers tall, dense vegetation with high humidity (hygrophilous).
Diet
Herbivorous; feeds primarily on various grasses (Poaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).
Role in food web
Primary consumer; serves as an important food source for specialized wet meadow birds (e.g., Whinchat) as well as for spiders and amphibians.
Protection & threats
Main threats
Drainage of wetlands, lowering of groundwater tables, intensification of agriculture (early mowing), eutrophication, and scrub encroachment of mires.
Population trend
Declining in large parts of Central Europe due to habitat loss and fragmentation; listed on the Red List in Germany (V or 3 depending on the state).
Conservation measures
Rewetting of mires and wet meadows, extensification of land use (late mowing from September onwards), maintenance of edge structures and buffer zones against nutrient input.