A blue-winged grasshopper, which is typically found only on the island of Bornholm in Denmark, has recently been discovered in the Saksfjed Wilderness area on Lolland. The remarkable observation was made by nature communicator Jens Thorving Andersen, who promptly documented the finding with photographs. Andersen views this discovery as evidence that positive initiatives aimed at promoting biodiversity can make a real difference. “When we give nature space to unfold, we see little miracles like this,” he stated.
Although the species is also found on Bornholm, the blue-winged grasshopper is critically endangered. According to Andersen, the grasshopper is mere millimeters away from extinction in Denmark. It usually inhabits warm, dry areas in Southern Europe and Central Europe and requires specific habitats, which Saksfjed Wilderness apparently provides.
The area is owned by the Hempel Foundation (Hempelfonden) and is renowned for its goal of restoring nature and enhancing biodiversity. The conditions in Saksfjed, with large expanses of land and wild horses, create the necessary environment for the blue-winged grasshopper, particularly by keeping the landscape open and allowing exposed sandy areas that the grasshopper prefers.
Andersen speculates that the grasshopper may have come from Germany, as the species is known to be capable of flying long distances and could have crossed the Fehmarn Belt, a body of water separating Denmark and Germany. He and his colleagues now plan to investigate whether more specimens of the grasshopper can be found in the area and intend to conduct targeted searches.
Saksfjed Wilderness, covering 775 hectares in southern Lolland, has a clear purpose: to promote natural diversity and ensure that former production areas are transformed into richer, more sustainable habitats.