Hello again, My Darlings.
Yesterday my friend, Terri, and I were enjoying a healthy
walk. Bored of our usual walking
pattern, we struck out across a nearby
field. Terri spotted this cool insect. I had only my older model smart phone to use
as a camera, but I was grateful for it. We
had no idea what we were looking at: a 4 cm
long, four- legged, pink critter.
If it were a grasshopper, then it would need two more legs!
I posted the picture
to “ID Request” on www.BugGuide.net. The
kind, smart folks at BugGuide would know what this was. Sure enough, I got an answer: Chortophaga viridifasciata, a Green-striped
Grasshopper. This one is a nymph,
probably over-wintering in the dry grass.
Indeed, it is missing the two powerful back legs, and it’s an unusual
color. Green-striped Grasshoppers are
usually green or brown. This
fellow demonstrates erythrism (“erythro-“ is a combining form that means “red”)
with its remarkable, vibrant coloring. Given its striking color and lack of hopping
legs, I imagine this pink grasshopper will soon be a good meal for a hungry
bird.
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| Erythrism in Chortophaga viridifasciata, a Green-striped Grasshopper Nymph |
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| Erythrism in Chortophaga viridifasciata, a Green-striped Grasshopper Nymph |
