Metrioptera brachyptera (Linnaeus, 1761)

Nutrition:
The species feeds on herbs and some small insects (caterpillars etc.).

Habitat:
Metrioptera brachyptera inhabits mostly structurally rich, mosaic-like and higher growing, not too dry and only extensively managed (weakly grazed, only mown once or fallow) meadows. So it is most common in nutrient-poor litter meadows, bushy and grassy former bogs and more mesophilic, rather cool and bushy grasslands or young plantations (pine).

Life cycle:
The adults usually occur from early July to October. The eggs overwinter in the top soil or litter layer and in stems.

Endangerment: endangered

Endangerment factors:
Metrioptera brachyptera is threatened by the reforestation of abandoned litter meadows or grasslands, but also due to agricultural intensification. This species does not tolerate too intense grazing, which is only of importance on small-scale sites because in large habitats there are always sufficient margins available.

Remarks:
The distribution ranges from southern England and Central and northern Europe eastwards to the temperate east Asia. In Europe it is missing in Greece, mostly in Italy (only in the far north) and from Central France entirely to the southwest.