Differential grasshopper
Do you hate how grasshoppers feel when you pick them up? I do. Check out the detail in the full-size image of this grasshopper and you'll see why most people have a natural aversion to holding them !*! Note that he's getting ready to put his right front foot down on the leaf.
The differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) is a spur-throated grasshopper (Family Acrididae /Subfamily Cyrtacanthacrindinae) found over much of the United States. It is one of the largest species of the genus (Melanoplus). Here you can see the charateristic black herringbone markings on the outer face on its hind femora (see note above). Their hind tibae are yellow, with sharp spurs for defense. I'd estimate his length to be 35-38 mm (1½ inches).
In our region, these types of grasshoppers are really only found in areas with lush vegetation - most commonly moist cultivated farm fields and gardens. I think this fella a male because the cercus - they were large and boot shaped (see note above). Also, the fercula (narrow forked organs on the tip of its abdomen between the cerci) were barely visible.
In this picture, he's sitting on a gray-green brocolli leaf in our garden. His thread-like antennae were moving slowly, scanning for anything that would signal danger as we walk to and fro along the paths of the garden as we harvested tomatoes.
Differential grasshopper
Do you hate how grasshoppers feel when you pick them up? I do. Check out the detail in the full-size image of this grasshopper and you'll see why most people have a natural aversion to holding them !*! Note that he's getting ready to put his right front foot down on the leaf.
The differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) is a spur-throated grasshopper (Family Acrididae /Subfamily Cyrtacanthacrindinae) found over much of the United States. It is one of the largest species of the genus (Melanoplus). Here you can see the charateristic black herringbone markings on the outer face on its hind femora (see note above). Their hind tibae are yellow, with sharp spurs for defense. I'd estimate his length to be 35-38 mm (1½ inches).
In our region, these types of grasshoppers are really only found in areas with lush vegetation - most commonly moist cultivated farm fields and gardens. I think this fella a male because the cercus - they were large and boot shaped (see note above). Also, the fercula (narrow forked organs on the tip of its abdomen between the cerci) were barely visible.
In this picture, he's sitting on a gray-green brocolli leaf in our garden. His thread-like antennae were moving slowly, scanning for anything that would signal danger as we walk to and fro along the paths of the garden as we harvested tomatoes.