The first part of the drive-about on Friday (8th) was out on the back roads in Cooke County. And that day was very hot. A lot more pleasant today, eh!
This was a field along one of those gravel roads. The beautiful Basketflowers! Well only the golden heads now. 😉
A young Showy Grasshopper had stopped at the Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium var canadense). This plant seemed to be just fine which I am sure the grasshoppers appreciated.
This was a different grasshopper for me. Tentatively ID’d as a Fuzzy Olive-Green Grasshopper (Campylacantha olivacea). Perhaps the subspecies Campylacantha olivacea olivacea. I did not notice at the time but it looks fuzzy in my photo. I never knew there were fuzzy grasshoppers.
Here was another grass that I am familiar by sight. However I never can remember the name.
However lucky me, I have Jeanne to remember the grasses. She ID’d it as White Tridens (Tridens albescens). Thanks Jeanne!
The Cocklebur was definitely hopping. This was a Spur-throated Grasshopper (Melanoplus). It hopped away hence no side view. 🙂
Lace Bugs (Tingidae) were on the undersiders of many of the Cocklebur leaves. Indeed, it looked like there was a “black sheep” in the crowd.
The “black sheep” were interesting. Then the yellow nymphs were throw into the mix. Fascinating! So if the others were “black sheep” I reckon that makes the yellow one a “yellow sheep”. LOL Additionally lots of frass was left behind too. So I do not know if the different colors were different species. Maybe I will find out some day.
Since these animals are herbivores they seemed to get along. However when watching closely you never know what excitement awaits. 🙂
Well, a grass that I guessed correctly. We have White Tridens in our sandy soil farm.
Well be glad you have tan colored dead plants covering the ground. We have nothing. Bare dirt like the dust bowl! Last night your storm reached us. Mostly wind. Should have seen the dust blowing. It hurt to be out in it. We did manage to get .15″ after the wind storm. We need a bunch of little rains so plants can return to hold the soil when we get a deluge. Sandy soil is so different than black clay. You can’t even find dormant grass. No sign of roots or crowns, just dirt.
Gecko is wonderful -can you imagine how difficult it would be to find a that leaf tailed gecko? How the dickens do they do it?
Ive never thought of grasshoppers as being pretty but a couple of those are. Cool
Well, a grass that I guessed correctly. We have White Tridens in our sandy soil farm.
Well be glad you have tan colored dead plants covering the ground. We have nothing. Bare dirt like the dust bowl! Last night your storm reached us. Mostly wind. Should have seen the dust blowing. It hurt to be out in it. We did manage to get .15″ after the wind storm. We need a bunch of little rains so plants can return to hold the soil when we get a deluge. Sandy soil is so different than black clay. You can’t even find dormant grass. No sign of roots or crowns, just dirt.
Sounds awful…the ground. Ours just crunch beneath our feet. Hopefully this week we can get some good soaking rain. 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Cute flock of aphids!