29 September β 28 April
the coastal calendar, shifted 14 days later for this region
Tall scrub and hedge tops after dark; sings from high in a bush, never from the ground.
The egg spends one or two winters in the soil before hatching, so a dry summer shows up in the population two years later rather than the next. Adults are predatory β they take other insects, not just leaves.
photos, sightings and recordings, off this site
where this species is on the list
| Phase | When | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| overwintering | 29 September β 28 April | 212 days | The species passes winter as an egg, larva or pupa; no adult is on the wing. |
| larvae feeding | 29 April β 3 July | 66 days | Caterpillars, grubs or nymphs feeding and growing. |
| adults on the wing | 4 July β 14 July | 11 days | The new generation is out, winged and looking for a mate. |
| courting | 15 July β 23 August | 40 days | Song, display, fighting, scent-marking β pairs forming or reaffirming. |
| on eggs | 24 August β 28 September | 36 days | Clutch laid and being incubated, or buried and left to the sun. |