Sorry, the above picture is a little out of focus. I guess the camera focused on a piece of grass. This next one is a little clearer:
Ain't he cute? Black with yellow, red, and orange stripes. I also tried laying my camera down on the ground next to it and snapping a picture, but again, it decided to focus on the grass. My camera must be addicted to grass (grin).
Anyway, you all get an idea of how pretty and unique this hopper was. Maybe he (or she) was on its way to Hollywood to get into the movies?? OK, I guess I got carried away. It is just a bug, right? Now, I hope none of you get buggy but instead, have a great day, you hear?
PS, my wife looked it up and found its name. It is a Southern Lubber grasshopper. Here is a link for more information on it: http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Southeastern-Lubber-Grasshopper , or you could just Google it and see what you find.
wow ,,, beautiful! Never saw one either. I see new bugs, etc, a lot. Wonder why. The red wasp i have now, have faint stripes on their tails. Don't remember those from before.
ReplyDeleteYes, I thought that it was beautiful and had never seen one before. I will have to check out the red wasps' tails around here and see if they have any stripes on them. If, while checking, I get stung, I will blame you (grin).
DeleteThat is really unusual, and pretty in a buggy sort of way.
ReplyDeleteYes it is, it is so pretty it must be a male (grin).
DeleteI hope it is not an invasive species that will harm something here and has no natural enemies. It looks like a grasshopper, but I have never seen a black grasshopper.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does look like a grasshopper. Maybe it got loose in a paint store and jumped in all the different colors (grin).
DeleteLooks like a Mexican General. If the bottom of the winds are red then that is what is it. You can see a picture of one here on Littlefoot's Blog. They used to be numerous here in the summer in years passed, but for some reason I seldom see them any more.
ReplyDeleteLooks like my typing sucks today. That should have been wings and not winds and the link is http://mydichotomouslife.blogspot.com/2010/09/quick-trip-to-terlingua-ranch-last-wknd.html
ReplyDeleteYes David, the one on their blog looks like the one in my yard except theirs had more yellow and mine had more red. I think mine was a little bit smaller, too. Thanks for the link.
DeleteCould be a difference in the camera's colors? If you find another one and can provoke it in to spreading its wings and the under side is red it is a Mexican general. That's what they are called down here anyway and they are grass hoppers. I think the drought ran them out of here a few years back. Maybe they moved east?
DeleteSince that is the only one I have ever seen, what are the odds of seeing another one? Probably pretty good odds. Yep, I will get it to roll over so I can tickle its belly. . .
DeleteI tend to agree with tffnguy, Horse Lubber or Mexican General Grasshopper (Taenipoda eques).
DeleteTX has some strange ones. Winter up north resets the bug population every year.
ReplyDeleteYep, and not just bugs. I am a little strange and I live in Texas (grin).
DeleteMy son had a small snake brought to him with colors like that,, was beautiful too. Shiny black with an orange stripe.
ReplyDeleteMost all snakes are beautiful, at least I think so.
DeleteHad to get out my field guide to insects.... couldn't find a grasshopper exactly like your colors.... but am guessing, like your wife says, it's a Horse Lubber. When we lived in the desert in Utah the grasshoppers were so prevalent that the roads were greasy with their "remains". I think these were the kind of grasshoppers that the seagulls devoured and saved the crops for the Mormans. Don't know how useful those big guys are in Texas....
ReplyDeleteThe Mormon 'miracle of the gulls' did not involve Horse Lubber/Mexican general Grasshoppers they were insects, now called "Mormon crickets" because of that incident. they are not true crickets nor are they grasshoppers, but instead belong to the katydid family.
DeleteHorse Lubber AKA Mexican General (Taeniopoda eques)
ReplyDeleteThe Odd Essay and tffnguy seem to have the answer. I believe they are correct.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a rumour that the little critter is part of an alien invasion. A very interesting looking hopper. Maybe it's a blog hopper.
ReplyDeleteA good day to you, sir.
Gary
Awe yes, an alien blog hopper, for sure!!
DeleteIt's black, must be a UN bug!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it came here in a black Chevy Suburban.
DeleteCool bug, I see why you took notice. Our lightning bug population seems to be down this year. I miss seeing them light up my yard. Not sure if it just the way their population cycle runs or maybe last years freezing cold winter is to blame.
ReplyDeleteOur lightning bugs only show up in the cooler seasons, something like the "snow birds". But this warm, humid climate here is to most bugs' liking. We do have lots of bugs.
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