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Colourful Lovers


Colourful Lovers
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11-16
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Digital ISO 100
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): comportement printanier [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-03-26 11:22
Viewed: 5164
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 96
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Unidentified grasshoppers / Anonymousa meadowjumpirostus

Many of us try to give as much information as possible pertaining to the subject when posting a photo. That is of course when you know what it is that you are posting or if you have a positive identification to the subject. In this case I don't have the faintest clue what type of grasshoppers these are and I can guarantee you that it is not due to a lack of effort. If anybody out there can assist me with the ID it would be highly appreciated.

I found these mating grasshoppers to be very colourful with lovely features. I captured these two 'lovers' in the Vryheid Hill Nature Reserve. They where not at all disturbed by me or my camera. I enjoyed this outing in the reserve tremendously as I walked all over the veld, taking photographs of all the beautiful wildflowers and plenty other interesting insects.

Grasshoppers have been featured many times on the site and therefore I am not going to give you information about the insect itself but instead I'll give a short overview of courtship and mating amongst these insects.

Courtship and mating
Grasshoppers have an amazing ability to identify their mates. Each species has its individual song, produced by rubbing or flicking the lower back legs on the forewings to create either a chirping or a clicking sound (this is known as stridulation). Females sing more softly than males, facilitating differentiation between both sex and species. Species that make no sound rely on sight and scent to find a mate. Males emit pheromones, external hormones which attract females, while other species use their excellent eyesight to enable identification by colour. The tiny, wingless grasshopper Drymophilacris bimaculata of Costa Rica has a brilliant green body with glimmering gold accents on its head, thorax, and genital areas. The male of this species searches out its mate by drumming its hind legs on its preferred food plant. The female drums back, and the pair identify each other by their unique colouring.

Elaborate courtship routines are performed by males in some species. The American grasshopper Syrbula admirabilis displays 18 individual poses using its wings, legs, and palps. Males of other species may wave brilliantly coloured wings when wooing the female, while other species forego courtship altogether.

Mating occurs when the male jumps on the female's back. Mating may last anywhere from 45 minutes to well over a day. In the species Extatosoma tiaratum, a female mates with several males. Most of the sperm in her genital tract from the first suitor is replaced by the sperm of her next mate. Males therefore mate many times with the same partner and other females to gain the maximum opportunity to pass on their genes. Males of some species die shortly after mating. The females die after egg-laying, which may last until cold weather begins. Source

I hope you enjoyed looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
PaulH, robindb, NinaM, Silvio2006, honza, xTauruSx, Noisette, ramthakur, eqshannon, Heaven, nasokoun, boreocypriensis, zulfu, Argus, bikefifty, maurydv, peter_stoeckl, jusninasirun, eng55, gracious, Mikolaj, sranjan, kmr13777, Dis. Ac., Alex99, anel, pilonm has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2009-03-26 11:36]

Hello Ana
good work with these grasshoppers, you capture them with great details and vivid colors.
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2009-03-26 11:48]

Hi Anna,
alas i can't help with the ID, but it is an interesting shot of these two colourful lovers. Great details in both sand and subjects, with a good composition too, well taken with excellent notes.
Paul

Hi Anna,

Outstanding colours with surprisingly good depth of field for F4. I like the angle of the grasshoppers. Well seen and photographed.

Regards

Robin

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 773 W: 3 N: 1157] (4077)
  • [2009-03-26 12:20]

Bonjour Miss Piggy, what colours! This is beautiful and the grasshoppers are simply fantastic. The place where you go seems so interesting and filled with life, I envy you! You see, at this time of year here, there's not much going on even though there's always something to photograph. I miss the flowers and insects, the soft wind and the beautiful warmth of the sun. Thanks for reminding me and hope you get luck and find the ID... I sure don't know at all! Thanks for this nice picture,

Francine

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-03-26 12:38]

Hello Anna,
Fantastic photo of this mating grasshoppers. I've searched for you on the internet for the ID, but I couldn't find it. Maybe somebody is an expert. Amazing colours and sharpness. Good composition.
Regards,
Petr

hello Anna
this is wath i like
great colours and good composition
super sharpness beautiful picture
greeting lou

Ciao Anna, my neighbour for this evening:) fantasting maiting couple with very little man, fine details and splendid sharpness, wonderful colors, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2009-03-26 13:41]

Hello Anna,
Wonderful capture.great details and colours.Very nice composition.
Thanks for sharing.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • honza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 533 W: 0 N: 720] (4197)
  • [2009-03-26 14:03]

Beautiful picture of the interesting pair. I like razorsharp details and colors very much.
Jan

Hello Anna, a wonderful pair in love with nice details and nice composition.
TFS and greetings,
Deniz

Hello Anna
a great scene of this two mating grasshoppers, I like her colors very much especially the orange dots on her whole body
you have captured the subjects in a very nicely way with perfect sharpness
very well done
Jacqueine

This is some very unique species of Grasshoppers, Anna. I too have seen it for the first time. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first ever posting of this species.
It is the colours on them that fascinate me.
In comparison to the male, the female is a veritable giant in this picture.
The image is [erfect in terms of POV, sharpness, colours and details. The brown earth makes a befitting BG for the main subjects.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

When one lives in remote locations...the mind can tend to run wild eh:-) I see an iconic image of something perhaps Jungian here....very nicely done however!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 123 N: 2341] (7912)
  • [2009-03-26 22:27]

Hi Anna!

Indeed, it's a colour festival you present us today. And I'm surprised that nobody could help you for the ID yet. It seems to be a very particular species of grasshoppers, and this adds to the value of the picture. It's also surprising to notice the difference of size between the male and the female. But, of course, the most pleasant aspect in your picture are the stunning colours. Both the superb colours and the fine sharpness create a pleasant effect.

I also like your narrative and at the same time instructive notes very much.

Kind regards

Markus

wowwwwwww, this is indeed striking, look at my grasshopper mating pic a few weeks ago. greetings Ori

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2009-03-27 1:11]

Hi Anna !

Impressive achievement and very interesting.
A good catch with some very clear and colors are well defined.
A beautiful day,
Adrian

Hi Anna,
A nice capture of these beautiful grasshoppers mating. Excellent sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

really a fascinating photo
splendid scene with beloved vivid colours
best regards Anna

Nasos

Hi Anna, what a lovely moment you captured here of this mating pair of the colourful beauties. Great macro in all around MF!
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2009-03-27 2:17]

Hello Anna, wonderful close-up shot of this couple in-love. Great colours and composition.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-03-27 4:23]

Hello Anna,
A very fine macro showing a pair of mating S. African grasshoppers that I cannot ID unfortunately. However we can say that their striking colouration indicates that this is a poisonous species.
The technical quality is excellent and the POV shows the salient features with fine sharpness. Interesting to see that the female is considerably larger that the male.
Thanks and I hope you and Loot have a good weekend.
Ivan

Wow, Anna, I am impressed! Not often we see action in a nature photo, lol. But jokes aside, you seem to always have your camera with you, or at least close by! A great photo, pin sharp with excellent colour detail. Well done!

Hi Anna,
What striking colours and patterns these grasshoppers have!
I don't think I've seen any quite like this on TN before.
Very good exposure and sharpness showing us lots of detail.
Nicely composed too.
Cheers & TFS Anna,
Steve

Anna,

I can say I have never seen a grass hopper this color. You have done a great job of capturing this natural act of the 2 very colorful insects. You have very good focus and depth of field on this shot.

Very good note.

Bob

Hello Anna,
what a wonderful picture of these grasshoppers captured just at right moment, superb sharpness and brilliant colours, very well composed.
TFS
Best regards
Have a good weekend
Maurizio

Dear Anna,
a perfectly well composed, powerfully concentrated, cheerfully colourful presentation of an adult grasshopper's main purpose of living. A pleasure to see their pleasure. With springtime in the air in these days at our northern hemisphere, your cheerful presentation from a southern hemisphere celebration of the season perfectly fits into some of our recently predominant feelings and desires. :)
Thank you! With all my best wishes to you -
Peter

Hi Anna,

I have never seen hoppers in this color before and thanks for sharing this one with us. The framing is perfect and the light and exposure is beautifully controlled in this pleasing framing. You have done really well in prenting us with top drawer image complimented with very well written notes; as always. Superb post on courtship and mating.

Thanks for sharing and have a beautiful day.
Best regards,
Jusni

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-03-30 1:58]

Hi Anna,
Magnificent close up.Details,and sharpness are amazing.I liked POV,timing,lighting and cross framing also a lot.Male one seems nearly half of famale.I think she needs a weight loss program:)
Have a great week!
Thanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • Tabib Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 160 W: 5 N: 167] (859)
  • [2009-03-30 10:12]

Hi Anna,

Great timing and stunning macro work here.
Sharp and colourful.
TFS,
/Redzlan/.

Hello Anna,
Excellent closeup with such beautiful colour on the grasshoppers! the details is superb in every part on the image!
you can almost touch them, looks real!
great shot
take care and regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2009-03-31 3:10]

What colourful insects they are Anna. They look like they have been painted. They are really quite beautiful.
It is quite amazing to see the difference in the sizes too.
TFS
Janice

  •      
  • eliz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 167 W: 20 N: 271] (1537)
  • [2009-03-31 6:10]

wow. this is a wonderful image. very strange this hoppers. i never saw this coloration in my country

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 820 W: 0 N: 2419] (10674)
  • [2009-04-01 0:43]

Hello Anna,
Excellent macro photo ...
Very nice composition.
Details and colors are very nice.
Greetings,
Seyfi

Hello Anna! Very interesting scene. Perfect contrast. Ideal sharpness. Amazing macro. Great effect. Well done!

Hello Anna,
Beautiful sharp capture of these colorful grasshoppers with excellent details & great info on photographer's note. TFS.
Regards-Subhash

Baie mooi foto Anna. Jy vervolmaak nou die kuns!
Groete
Betsie

Hi Anna !

A splendid capture some excellent colors.
Congratulations and expect and more.
Have a nice day,
Chris

Hi Anna,
This is a brilliant capture of the couple. Great colors and very fine detail. Excellent work. The closest I could reach the correct ID was this {Panther-spotted Grasshopper (Poecilotettix pantherinus)}. I don't think this is the right one but it's close in terms of the patterns on the legs and body however the shape of the head is different.

TFS

Kirti

Hi Anna,

that are beautiful Grasshoppers with fine colours.
Good detail, a little from behind but it are still an good picture.

Gert

Hello Anna,
this is amazing shot of these grasshoppers. Congratulations.

TFS and greetings,
Leonid

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-04-09 8:56]

Hi Anna.
What an attractive grasshoppers you managed to catch. Their colouration is amazing and I have never seen this species. Our species have modest colouration. I welcome great DOF and superb details of the insect and BG. POV and composition are brilliant too. As usual, note is terrific. Bravo.
Alexei.

Qué fotografía más bonita Anna !

Difíciles colores para el fotógrafp pero muy bien captados. Su mezcla es espectacular. Una especie que lógicamente no conocía.

Buena semana: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2009-04-14 4:05]

Hi Anna,
a very special species of grasshopper. i have never seen any of this kind and it is very attractive indeed. the composition is also very interesting.
Very sharp and very well detailed shot.

regards,
Foozi

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-04-24 4:03]

Hello Anna,
Sorry,I missed this grasshopper-picture which I like a lot. The insects have a very special coloration and it is also amazing to see the difference in size between females and males. Interesting too to read about their mating-behaviour. Beautiful earth-colors too.
Thanks. Take care
Anne

Hello Anna,

Very nice picture of those so impressing and colorful grasshopper! Once again the exposition is perfectly managed. f/4 was a good choice for having both insects (including all the antennas) in focus. I'm impressed also by the difference in size between both sexes. This angle is interesting but I think I would have preferred a lower angle (i.e. a pov more at their level). Anyway, I like very much your picture and thank you very much for sharing with us all that wonderful biodiversity located in South Africa! The majority of your pictures represents animals that I'm seeing for the first time!!!

Cheers,

Michel

Hi Anna.
Excellent photo...Very good catch...Nice composition and great details and colors...TFS.
Best wishes
Leyla.

Wonderful time for them, Anna :o)
Amazing focus and colors.
Thanks for sharing, my friend.

Abraços,
Bruno

Colourful indeed they are!
I love the contrasting BG of the earth that brings out the details so well!
Thanks a lot, Anna!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 195 W: 2 N: 344] (1823)
  • [2009-06-10 9:57]

Hello Ana,

Excellent colors an good capture of the moment!
Super sharpness !!!

TFS

brigitte

very interesting and nice grasshoopers, congrats for the picture and for the stream too,

ciao, tino

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