This volume investigates the biological diversity, ecological roles, and distribution patterns of orthopteran insects within the British Isles. Ted Benton, a respected authority in entomology and ecology, synthesizes decades of field research and taxonomic data to provide a comprehensive overview of grasshoppers, crickets, and groundhoppers. The text serves as a definitive reference, grounding its analysis in both historical records and contemporary environmental observations to explain the life cycles and habitat requirements of these species.

As part of the long-running New Naturalist series, this work is regarded as a standard reference for both professional entomologists and dedicated naturalists. The text provides a dense, scholarly examination of its subject, offering a rigorous framework for understanding the ecological status of these insects in a changing landscape.