As I was watering the garden this afternoon I noticed this big guy on the daylily. He was rubbing himself in the pollen and thoroughly enjoying himself. He didn’t seem to mind that I was watching him and taking a few photos. Amazing….simply amazing.
Look at those really long antennae.
What a great discovery this hot summer afternoon. The flower is just gorgeous too…..if you didn’t notice. 🙂
“When any creature has unusually strong hind legs, we many be sure it is a jumper, and the grasshopper shows this peculiarity at first glance.”
Handbook of Nature Study, page 339
There is a section on grasshoppers starting on page 338 of the Handbook of Nature Study.
Edit to Note: Makita helped me realize that this particular insect is actually a Chaparral katydid. So now here is my question: Is a katydid a kind of grasshopper? In my field guide it says, Chaparral Katydid, Platylyra californica, grasshopper order. Are grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets all related or am I reading my field guide and misunderstanding? Insect identification is my least favorite thing to do in nature study.
Nice pictures!
Amazing photographs! The first one enlarged is just stunning. The pollen is all over him, very cool.
~Becky
Are you certain it isn’t actually a Katydid? Either way – very cool. It appears as though it might be a young one as its wings are relatively short. Beautiful photo. Do you use macro or ??
Thanks for the help Makita….looked it up this morning and I think it is a Chaparral katydid.
I used my regular camera on the macro setting and then for the first close-up photo I used my photo editing program to crop it.
Amazing stuff.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
Great photographs! I don’t rate myself on identifying insects much, either!
~Chrissy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Class: Insecta
Order: Orthoptera (Which includes the Grasshoppers, Locusts, Katydids and Crickets)
That is about as far as I can go with taxonomy. I used to assign my 5th graders an insect project that required them to identify the Order name for each.
😀
What a wonderful pictures! Amazing body on the little guy. I will have to share these with my children. 🙂
Thanks, Barb!
~Tina
Oh this explaines it better:
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/grasshoppers/grasshoppers.htm
Ok, that is enough. I am sure you can do a lot of your own googling. 🙂
Have a wonderful day Barb! 🙂
Amazing photos, Barb! What a stunning little creature.
Sherry
Wow, Your pics are awesome!!! I have really enjoyed all your nature post lately and wish my pics would turn out as well! A always thanks for sharing!! God Bless–Angie in GA
Amazing! I loved seeing all of the pollen stuck to the katydid when I enlarged it. He’s sure helping to pollinate! 🙂