Grasshopper (Atractomorpha) オンブバッタ（負飛蝗）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are grasshoppers. Plan and simple. The twist, however, is their relationship. A man passing by while I was taking these photos said that they were a parent and a child. I thought so, too, but ha ha! We were both mistaken. They are actually male and a female and you know what? The bigger one is female. In other words, a male grasshopper, which is much smaller, is piggybacking on her😆! And that's why in Japan, this species is called "piggyback grasshopper."

2024/9/19 A female grasshopper is piggybacking a male counterpart
雌が雄をおんぶ

Uninvited but Welcome Guest まだ帰りませんってば！

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The guest has been staying at a friend's house since a week ago. The friend's been checking up on the guest every day for the week, but the guest seems to have no intention to leave, just clinging on to a leaf of a ponytail palm tree (Beaucarnea recurvata). We're worried about the guest because it should die soon. The guest is a grasshopper. 

I wondered why some grasshoppers are green while others brown and learned today they change the color from green to brown and vice versa in response to environmental conditions (e.g., overcrowding). I just wish this uninvited but welcome guest to live as comfortably as possible.   

Longheaded Locust (Atractomorpha Lata) オンブバッタ（負飛蝗）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Yesterday it was about a fly on a yellow cosmos and today it's about a longheaded locust (Atractomorpha lata). As almost all flowers are gone but yellow cosmoses in my neighborhood because of the recent heatwave, the cosmoses may be the only place for bugs to rest now. The locust's Japanese name is "Ombu batta," meaning piggybacking grasshoppers because their females are often seen piggybacking the males (not vice versa!). I want to see such a couple someday!    

Longheaded locust (Atractomorpha lata)　オンブバッタ（負飛蝗）

Acrida Cinerea (Chinese Grasshopper) 精霊蝗虫（ショウリョウバッタ）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Can you see that? If not, take a look at the second photo. This is acrida cinerea or more commonly known as Chinese grasshopper. It landed on a leaf just in front of me when I was taking photos of skunk vines. The green colors of the grasshopper and the leaves are so beautiful!! 

The grasshopper has several Japanese names, including "Heaven and Earth grasshopper" because of the big size difference between the males and females like "Heaven and Earth." Acrida cinerea males are typically 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2.0 inch) long while the females are 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 inch).

Acrida cinerea 精霊蝗虫