Length 11-21 mm. As the name suggests, it has dark drab colours though the abdomen is yellow or greenish yellow. The forewings are very small and like all crickets it has very long antennae.

Indicator Species - Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Wasteland, Bramble thickets, old hedges, marshland, woodland edges and rides etc.

Nymphs appear at the end of April. Adults appear in late June to early July and survive until Winter.

Omnivorous, feeding on a range of vegetation and small insects. Eggs are laid into rotting wood or bark crevices.

Found mainly in Southern half of England and Wales this species is reasonably common.

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Locally common in Rutland, especially in old habitats, but range in Leics thought to be restricted to two ancient woodlands in Leighfield Forest.