Hunting for Grasshoppers

Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Well I got the good news today. After being carless for over 4 months my car is up and running and the timing could not be better. I will be picking my car up Tuesday week and then doing some quick shopping for supplies, packing my car up to leave wednesday or thursday morning. My aim is to go hunting for Leichardt Grasshoppers, these rare grasshoppers are only around during teh build up and the wet season, they are a bright red colouration with bright blue spots. If I can even get one decent shot of them I will be more than happy.

In the Northern territory of Australia is the rugged area of Kakadu. This is where the flamboyantly colored grasshopper, Leichhardt’s Grasshopper (Petasida ephippigera), resides. It’s named after the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who first discovered and wrote about this species in 1845. It’s a standout from most other grasshopper species with its bright orange body highlighted by deep blues and reds. It does have wings, but rarely uses them to fly more than a few inches of its home.These hoppers feed on only one type of plant, the pityrodia. An adult will spend most of its life on one plant alone, living first at the base and then journeying up the plant as it grows older. Most of its day is spent basking in the hot Australian sun and feeding. Tough life.

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DISCLAIMER: The below photo is NOT mine.

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photo by: Craig Nieminski
 
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Moab Man

Senior Member
That grasshopper is absolutely stunning! I wish you the best of luck on your hunt. However, be careful! Like seemingly everything there in Australia I'm sure this one can/will kill you too. :)

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Ironwood

Senior Member
Good luck on the Grasshopper hunt Scott, I hadnt heard of those ones before, very interesting.

4 months for the car, that Nissan must have had some serious problems :p
 
Scott Murray

Scott Murray

Senior Member
Ironwood;bt1938 said:
Good luck on the Grasshopper hunt Scott, I hadnt heard of those ones before, very interesting.

4 months for the car, that Nissan must have had some serious problems :p
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Do not ask about my car, 4 months later and approx $7000 lets just say I will not be going to that mechanic again. I pick it up tomorrow.

The grasshoppers are definitely out there as a friend att work got some shots on her iPhone so fingers crossed they stick around, from what I have read they stick to the same plant moving up the plant as they grow :). And they are very approachable so fingers crossed. I may even try some video or timelapse (eg set up D600 on tripod and go off take photos with D800E ;) )
 
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DraganDL

Senior Member
"DISCLAIMER: The below photo is NOT mine."

;)Obviously, the photo is not yours - I saw your "macro set" on Flickr - you've made some GREAT photos of insects and frogs...
 
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