MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF WILDLIFE.
This distinctly hairy grasshopper (chorthippus brunneus), is found with a range of colours, but usually has an orange colouration towards the tip of its abdomen. It prefers dry short vegetation in sunny situations and can be seen throughout its range, in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.
By rubbing their legs against their wings males display to females by making a single chirrup sound repeated at intervals. This courtship 'song' results in pairs mating and eggs being laid in the soil, which hatch as nymphs the following spring.
Adults emerge in June and may survive until late Autumn. Essentially herbivores, they feed mainly on grasses, and as winged insects, they and are able to fly well. They vary between 15-25 mm in size. It goes without saying, this particular one I photographed was quite small, small enough in fact to settle on a harebell flower.
© All Rights Reserved
Intended to scare off would-be predators, such as birds, this elephant-hawk moth caterpillar is in defensive mood. It was photographed down the length of its food plant, making its body part a lot shorter than it is. The actual head is what appears to be the tongue.
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE AND WILDLIFE.
Tags: COTH coth5
© All Rights Reserved
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE AND WILDLIFE.
© All Rights Reserved
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS ACROSS THE WHOLE SPECTRUM NATURE AND WILDLIFE.
I stumbled on this by chance in a wildlife section of an old country parish cemetery, just as I was about to leave. It was munching its way through a rosebay willowherb leaf, which was growing out of the bottom part of a grave surround.
When outstretched and mobile, it is about 4 inches long, but about two-thirds of that length when at rest or eating. They are usually seen between July and September, after which time they pupate beneath soil or plant litter, before overwintering.
As it became aware of me, it withdraw its head and front two little body segments into the main part of its body, giving the appearance of an elephant truck, which it then started waving in my direction, while at the same time mimicking a snake with big eyes. Although it looked somewhat comical, it was a threatening gesture aimed at would-be predators, such as birds.
© All Rights Reserved
Tags: beetle Coleoptera
© All Rights Reserved