The long-headed grasshoppers I saw the other day are far from the cute, inquisitive-looking ones I grew up knowing. These li’l creatures aren’t always welcomed in a garden, but they’re Mother Nature’s gifts nonetheless.
I hadn’t seen this type before– and it’s not because I don’t care; I’m always in the garden investigating– and so when I happened on one, and then a second, smaller one called a piggyback grasshopper, which I just learned this about:
They get their Japanese common name from the behavior of the males during mating. The males are significantly smaller than the females, and will sit on a female’s back, driving off rival males, for several days until the female comes into season.
https://bugsofjapan.tumblr.com/post/100396293377/a-grasshopper-in-the-atractomorpha-genus
… out came my phone, and I took the lovely video at the home of a sweet friend. Sharing it now with you.
Note: I meant to delete it, but simply updated the quick, short post I attempted on my phone before this post, and now, I invite you to click PLAY on the 73-seconds long compressed video to enjoy the sounds I hear these days.
(insect sounds)
… eh, what are you?
… you’re a different kind of…
(insect sounds/chomp, chomp, chomp)
… there’s two o’ you. Two…
o’ mi God!
Thanks for stopping by today. I wish you miracles.
The information on grasshoppers was fun. I can’t listen to the video, coz I’m outside now but will go back to it when I’m home :). I enjoy nature sounds too.
So happy you read that and found it fun. Yes, for the video you’ll need quiet.
The little lady’s face is huger (more huge) than I think the poor thing deserved. I never noticed that before.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the nature sound of my lovely afternoon. xo
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A lovely poem and a wonderful video: I just loved hearing the grasshopper chomp! And the surprise at the end 😊
Thanks for stopping by 💕
My pleasure, as always 😊
Fascinating nature fact and photo proof, and not less impressive – that bag! Love!
Hehe. You got a good eye. Thanks. Yes, that’s my bag. So glad you visited.
Also it reminded me of the time when I wrote a poem about a visitor. Throughout, I used the word ‘caterpillar’ instead of ‘grasshopper’ in mistake. And the title is Playing Mantis. Have a look: https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2019/10/13/pic-and-a-word-challenge-203-playing-mantis/
Glad you pointed me there. Read. Lovely. Thanks so much.
Don’t mind. The piece is precious as is. xo
Ciao Selma!
I love the video and the sound of her munching away is awesome.😋
I guess your friend would not be too happy though .. the little devil has a voracious appetite. 😳
In Italy we have the long headed grasshopper .. yours has a cone shaped head.
Autumn is also the mating time for the Praying Mantis .. I had the luck to take a pic of one about two weeks ago .. it was strolling over my purple towel hung over the balcony .. I guess it thought it was a flower.😂
Ciao, Tempeste dearest. Glad you stopped by today and that you could hear her munching. So precious, that. She has a voracious appetite indeed.
Did you also notice her date? He’s piggy riding. Waiting for her to get her fill and be ready to pay attention to him. Just lovely.
You’re correct: My friend is not happy about these visitors on her precious plants.
Oh, her head is a huge cone indeed. I got a close up of her and you can tell she maneuvers that cone well.
Oh, you’re funny. Your purple towel attracted that Praying Mantis. Perhaps it’s smelled like a flower.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate you. 💕
Selma , I laughed when you wrote :
“Did you also notice her date? He’s piggy riding. Waiting for her to get her fill and be ready to pay attention to him. Just lovely.”
—————
Well the male praying mantis instead hopes the female doesn’t notice when he hops on .. he just “prays” she will keep busy feeding..
.. this is because the female often decapitate her partner.
..but no fear the male has a special organ in its abdomen which stimulates him to continue pumping even more vigorously despite it is headless.😎
Haha. Now you’ve made me laugh.
You do know bugs!
Does she really do that to him? Gosh!
And look how different they are in size. I feel bad for the little guy.
But why decapitate. That’s wicked!
Thanks for the fun read. You are so cool. Be well Tempeste, my sweets. I wish you miracles.
She needs nutrition to make eggs, he’s the best provider of protein around. So she gets the nutrition where she can get it. Call it child support 😉
Let’s call it child support, then. Thanks for more info on this. Nature certainly knows how to balance things that need balancing.
Exactly 🙂 That’s what I was about to write in tonight’s poem 😀
I learned something new today. I’ve never seen that type of grasshopper. Delightful, and he seemed to love your plant. Nature is beguiling and wondrous.
Right?! I called it long headed but someone just told me they’re cone-headed. Oh my. Still, all creatures great and small… beguiling and wondrous as you said.
Aside: had one of my once-in-a-while Piano Lessons today. And I thought if you then. Made a 3-min long video of my struggle. Wish I could post it for you to see. I’m a perpetual beginner. But I love doing this. There will be no piano recitals. I don’t see that in my future but I enjoy it nonetheless.
You keep inspiring me. Thanks my lovely Kathryn. IWYM
I love the childlike wonder in your voice as you discover the little guy on top of her 😀
When I took out my camera, I was only focused on her. Not until the close-up did I notice the other one piggyriding. I was surprised. I’m sure you could tell. Thanks for reading/commenting here too. You rock.
I think the fact that he’s a different colour makes it all the more unexpected. And yes, your surprise was hard to miss. I spotted him a little before, but probably because I’d read your post already, so knew to expect him.
Thank you for sharing your wonderment!
Wild! Absolutely stunning! Something new to always see, discover, happen upon – and talk about Nature’s camouflage! I can see and hear from your lovely whispering, just how surprising this second joy was. Astounding how we have to focus and be so intent in looking to notice; I also noticed some tiny bug – perhaps a spider, running circles on the leaf too. And how incredible was the sole intention of the larger ‘hopper – so practiced in eating its meal. Just amazing. What a wonderful celebration of life, a small slice of a smile, joy, pleasure! thanks for sharing Selma 🙂
Small as this may seem, it was a huge moment of awe. It brought me wonderment, I tell you. Thanks for seeing more. Yes, that extra bug— goes to show that even when we are there, zooming in on one thing, other wonderful things are unfolding all around us. Gosh! Lovely is life.
Thanks, again. Know that the pleasure’s all mine.
You can hear the awe and wonder, the surprise and delight in your voice ~ it brings the moment together – best of all, we get to share it – at least that’s how I feel – like a friend whispering, come closer, come close, look, see … 🙂