This is a medium-large species with rounded ‘shoulders’ and is predominantly olive green in colour, affording it excellent camouflage among seed pods of Gorse. In winter however, it develops a duller, browner colour. Nymphs are partially brown and black with flecks of red on the abdomen.
Distribution in Ireland: Widespread and locally common.
Habitat: Typically found where gorse bushes grow, such as farmland hedgerows, coastal scrub, brownfield sites, heathland and bogland margins.
Habits: As its name suggests, this species has a close association with Gorse on which the nymphs and adults feed. It may occasionally use Broom bushes too. Adults seldom stray far and are fond of basking on the seed pods, so visual searching or beating of gorse bushes are effective ways to find it. It overwinters as an adult, usually deeper within the dense cover of its hostplant.
