Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning
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Name: Igor Species: Eastern Lubber Grasshopper or Romalea guttata (or microptera) Romalea guttata (or microptera) Kingdom: Metazoa (Animalia) Phylum: Arthropods Class:Insecta Order: Orthoptera(grasshoppers, crickets, katydids) Family: Romadeidae Genus: guttata or microptera (?) Range: Southeastern US - ranging from SC to Texas Color:dull yellow with varying degrees of black spots. The hind wings are reddish. Eating habits: Reference: Florida Nature This all started with an innocent visit to my grandfather-in-law, near Lake Placid, Florida. Sitting at the table, I noticed something on the window. Being a Frank with very curious eyes, I said to myself: "self, what is that". So I went outside and found a wonderful multicolored grasshopper. I looked hard, suggesting that he should be in the grass, and sure enough, with a little coaxing, he jumped to the grass. This was too beautiful an insect to keep for myself. This is a perfect addition to the learning center, where I am building a collection of insects. This is number 2 (after Natasha, the spider). So I made photos, asked Google to feed my curiosity, and here are the initial ideas. To my surprise, there are some very interesting stories about navigation and smelling from studies of this and similar grasshoppers. Some initial links are at the bottom.
Hello, says the grasshopper (Romalea guttata)
It all started when I noticed Igor on the window screen  Then he jumped (after some disturbance from me) to the grass where clearly he wanted to not be. It was slightly raining and Igor does not like the rain. So here he is, doing an interesting balancing act. 
Hello, says the grasshopper (Romalea guttata  Look at my beautiful red wings. Do you know how I made them? And my body, how did I make the patterns and segments of my body? Try searching with Google, about patterning and segmentation in insects.  Two different presentations. I've found that Romalea guttata or the eastern lubber brasshopper, cannot fly - but only feebly hop from place to place. This clearly explains why he/she is so cooperative for my photographs - they simply are not able to escape. 
See my teeth? Or are they really teeth or something else that just looks like teeth 
 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. C. Frank Starmer |