[headhertz]

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We see Painted Grasshoppers occasionally around the house and the opportunity to photograph one was my "gateway drug" excuse to get a real camera. Shot with a D500 and 200-500 f/5.6: 500mm, f8, 1/200, ISO 1250 in natural light.

 

[agrumpybirdphotographer]

Wow that’s fantastic

 

[headhertz]

Wow that’s fantastic

Thanks, Gordon!

 

[Tom C]

Great shot! Your gateway drug excuse worked out well

 

[headhertz]

Great shot! Your gateway drug excuse worked out well

Thanks, Tom C! Isn't that the truth!

 

[Viathelens]

That is a lovely creature...you sure you didn't paint it?

 

[clfitz]

That's really interesting. I've never seen one of those. All we get around here are green and brown ones.

 

[Irap]

Great looking grasshopper and a great shot!

 

[sh1209]

Great shot!

 

[headhertz]

That is a lovely creature...you sure you didn't paint it?

They are beautiful, Viathelens. Much more so than if I had painted it!

 

[headhertz]

That's really interesting. I've never seen one of those. All we get around here are green and brown ones.

We get the brown ones too; which probably outnumber these by about a thousand to one.

Great looking grasshopper and a great shot!

Thanks, Irap!

Great shot!

Thank you, sh1209!

 

[gdecamp]

That's amazing, awesome image!

 

[Charles Loy]

Interesting insect, super image

 

[Bigmo]

Great photo.

 

[headhertz]

That's amazing, awesome image!

Thank you, gdecamp!

Interesting insect, super image

Awe, shucks! Thank you, Charles Loy!

Great photo.

Thank you, Bigmo!

 

[John Woodworth]

Great shot!

How long did it sit there posing for you?

 

[headhertz]

Great shot!

How long did it sit there posing for you?

Thanks, John!

Normally, we might spot one or two per year while out for our typical mid-morning walk on weekends. Under those conditions they are fairly active and rarely stay in one place for more than a minute. This one was on our doorstep at dawn and I didn't see it move before we left the house for the day.

I have tried in vain to locate Wright's False Willow, which is said to be the exclusive habitat of the nymphs in Arizona, near our house; Surprising, since I was able to somewhat-reliably locate nymphs in one location for a short time this year. Arizona is pretty diverse and we are on the Colorado Plateau.