Science can be messy. Shirley often told me about how the plant names were changing with DNA studies and how frustrating it was. And she found it hard, since like most of us, depend on the morphology to decide what is what. But nevertheless, also very interesting, eh! I love to learn new stuff, even if it makes my brain cells explore. LOL
Snakeweed Grasshopper (Hesperotettix viridis) or a subspecies found on Greeneyes (Berlandiera betonicifolia)! Beautiful and green with highlights of white, black and a pale red. This one I think was an earlier instar as the red was pale. Its favorite foods are in Asteraceae family. This particular genus is apparently a bit messy at the moment according to BugGuide.
The final-instar of a Bird Grasshopper (Schistocerca) on Lizardtail Gaura. In fact, the Schistocerca genus is very hard to tell them apart as nymphs. We have at least two species in North Texas that I have noted. So just like plants and every other species, sometimes a photo is not enough to ID a species or even genera.
Messy dirt. I wondered what made the swirls. However I can see face in the swirls LOL. Maybe I have been in the heat too long. 😉
Can you find the deer? Hint: only part of the body can be seen. Gracie and I disturbed it in our woods. I think it probably said several bad words to us as it sprinted away. 😉
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
4 Comments
Grasshoppers are cool in small numbers. Too many this year. Interesting article about mammals and warm blood. If you figure out what made the face in the dirt tell us.
I disagree on the abundant of grasshoppers. I think it is probably an average year. One grasshopper that we used to have at our house has blue wings. I have not seen one for multiple years now. An average amount of grasshoppers is a good thing so that the Swainson’s Hawk that migrate thru will have food for their trip. A large part of their diet in the fall is grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers are cool in small numbers. Too many this year. Interesting article about mammals and warm blood. If you figure out what made the face in the dirt tell us.
I disagree on the abundant of grasshoppers. I think it is probably an average year. One grasshopper that we used to have at our house has blue wings. I have not seen one for multiple years now. An average amount of grasshoppers is a good thing so that the Swainson’s Hawk that migrate thru will have food for their trip. A large part of their diet in the fall is grasshoppers.
😆I knew that statement about grasshoppers would get a rise out of you.
😂