Painted Grasshoppers

Meet the stunning, psychedelic painted desert grasshopper! Despite crazy coloration, they're extremely difficult to find. Since moving to Arizona, I have been ecstatic about the notion of seeing one.
After nearly 3 years, it finally happened!!
Chiricahua Mountains, AZ. Prints of this image are not currently available for sale. Please check back for future availability!

Rainbow Grasshopper

This stunner was the very first painted grasshopper I've seen and he/she was riding atop the back of a large gopher snake! What an a thing to experience! Since moving to Arizona, I have been ecstatic about the notion of seeing one. After nearly 3 years, it finally happened!! Chiricahua Mountains, AZ.
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Horse Hopper

These enormous grasshoppers can reach several inches long and move very slowly. Horse lubbers will sometimes appear in obscene numbers within a specific area. They seem to, again, vanish quite promptly. Cochise County, Arizona.

Green Grasshopper

A lovely green grasshopper enjoys the splendors of a former grass yard that was recently converted into wildflower garden. Upgrading a portion of your grass lawn to a wildflower garden is not only a beautiful change, but provides food and shelter for untold number of pollinators and often birds! Winfield, PA. Prints of this image are not currently available for sale. Please check back for future availability!

Dinosaur Hopper

In addition to "great crested," this large grasshopper is commonly known as the "dinosaur grasshopper." I can see the likeness. Following this encounter, my companion looked up their common names and was ecstatic to share that "dinosaur" was one.
SE Arizona.
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Katy’s Camo

This katydid sported a most convincing disguise to blend with dead leaves. The camouflage, however, had limited effectiveness among green ferns. Dos Brazos de Tigre, Costa Rica.

Crazy Cricket

What stunning coloration! This small cricket (species unknown) certainly stood out in the jungle! Bright colors often indicate poison, deterring would-be predators. Dos Brazos de Tigre, Costa Rica.

Gorgeous Grasshopper

This wee little grasshopper sported such stunning coloration! Species unknown. Dos Brazos de Tigre, Costa Rica.

Camouflaged Katydid

It's hard to capture who you cannot see! Sitting still amidst vibrant green leaves, this katydid could become nearly invisible! Dos Brazos de Tigre, Costa Rica.

Hungy Hopper

On rare occasion, a photographer must quite literally put their flesh/blood into the efforts of a picture. This grasshopper was proving itself to be a challenging photography subject, until I had the thought to stage some shots from the end of my finger. My subject was quite content to rest here, and after a few seconds, I knew why when a sharp pain visited my fingertip. I let him/her continue to munch, snapping my shots one-handed. Photo taken in Bald Eagle State Forest, PA, USA.

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Cricket in the Jungle

Contrasting such a well-camouflaged body, this cricket had two fluorescent green dots on the rear of his / her abdomen. When viewed from behind, the flashy dots resemble huge eyes! Dos Brazos de Tigre, Costa Rica.

Grasshopper and the Robber

A robber fly captures and kills smaller insects. Incidentally, this grasshopper was a bit too large and had to be abandoned. Mt Lemmon, AZ.
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Leaf Mimicry

Santa Rita Mountains, AZ.

Grasshopper Profile

This large, orange grasshopper (species unknown) made the perfect macro photography subject, as it hung from a stick in the process of molting (shedding it’s exoskeleton). Photo taken at Lake Louisa State Park, FL, USA.
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Horse Habitat

A grande horse lubber grasshopper stands in a rock surrounded by the ephemeral stream of her home. Chiricahua Mountains, AZ.