<< Previous Next >>

Common Green Grasshopper


Common Green Grasshopper
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-06
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS, Digital ISO-80
Exposure: f/2.7, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-21 2:09
Viewed: 2512
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I think this is a Common Green Grasshopper but I'm not sure.
This was taken in my Wales holiday last year.

Here's some info on Grasshoppers in general :)

Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish them from bush crickets or katydids, they are sometimes referred to as short-horned grasshoppers. Species that change color and behaviour at high population densities are called locusts.

Grasshoppers have antennae that are almost always shorter than the body (sometimes filamentous), and short ovipositors. Those species that make easily heard noises usually do so by rubbing the hind femurs against the forewings or abdomen (stridulation), or by snapping the wings in flight. Tympana, if present, are on the sides of the first abdominal segment. The hind femora are typically long and strong, fitted for leaping. Generally they are winged, but hind wings are membranous while front wings (tegmina) are coriaceous and not fit for flight. Females are normally larger than males, with short ovipositors.

They are easily confused with the other sub-order of Orthoptera, Ensifera, but are different in many aspects, such as the number of segments in their antennae and structure of the ovipositor, as well as the location of the tympana and modes of sound production. Ensiferans have antennae with at least 30 segments, and caeliferans have fewer. In evolutionary terms, the split between the Caelifera and the Ensifera is no more recent than the Permo-Triassic boundary (Zeuner 1939).

Recent estimates (Kevan 1982; Günther, 1980, 1992; Otte 1994-1995; subsequent literature) indicate some 2,400 valid Caeliferan genera and about 11,000 valid species described to date. Many undescribed species exist, especially in tropical wet forests. The Caelifera are predominantly tropical but most of the superfamilies are represented world wide.

Digestion and excretion
The digestive system of insects includes a foregut (stomodaeum - the mouth region), a hindgut (proctodaeum - the anal region), and a midgut (mesenteron). The mouth leads to the muscular pharynx, and through the esophagus to the crop. This discharges into the midgut, which leads to the malpighian tubules. These are the chief excretion organs. The hindgut includes intestine parts (including the ileum and rectum), and exits through the anus. Most food is handled in the midgut, but some food residue as well as waste products from the malpighian tubules are managed in the hindgut. These waste products consist mainly of uric acid, urea and a bit of amino acids, and are normally converted into dry pellets before being disposed of.

The salivary glands and midgut secrete digestive enzymes. The midgut secretes protease, lipase, amylase, and invertase, among other enzymes. The particular ones secreted vary within the different diets of grasshoppers.

Nervous System
The grasshopper's nervous system is controlled by ganglia, loose groups of nerve cells which are found in most species more advanced than cnidarians. In grasshoppers, there are ganglia in each segment as well as a larger set in the head, which are considered the brain. There is also a neuropile in the centre, through which all ganglia channel signals. The sense organs (sensory neurons) are found near the exterior of the body and consist of tiny hairs (sensilla), which consist of one sense cell and one nerve fiber, which are each specially calibrated to respond to a certain stimulus. While the sensilla are found all over the body, they are most dense on the antennae, palps (part of the mouth), and cerci (near the posterior). Grasshoppers also have tympanal organs for sound reception. Both these and the sensilla are linked to the brain via the neuropile.

Circulation and respiration
Grasshoppers have open circulatory systems, with most of the body fluid (hemolymph) filling body cavities and appendages. The one closed organ, the dorsal vessel, extends from the head through the thorax to the hind end. It is a continuous tube with two regions - the heart, which is restricted to the abdomen, and the aorta, which extends from the heart to the head through the thorax. Hemolymph is pumped forward from the hind end and the sides of the body through a series of valved chambers, each of which contains a pair of lateral openings (ostia). The hemolymph continues to the aorta and is discharged through the front of the head. Accessory pumps carry hemolymph through the wing veins and along the legs and antennae before it flows back to the abdomen. This hemolymph circulates nutrients through the body and carries metabolic wastes to the malphighian tubes to be excreted. Because it does not carry oxygen, grasshopper "blood" is green.

Respiration is performed using tracheae, air-filled tubes, which open at the surfaces of the thorax and abdomen through pairs of spiracles. The spiracle valves only open to allow oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. The tracheoles, found at the end of the tracheal tubes, are insinuated between cells and carry oxygen throughout the body.

Thanks!
vanderschelden, lensaleksander, SelenE, Argus, LordPotty, eqshannon, Maite, jaycee, ellis49, haraprasan, JoseMiguel, Patleboss, NinaM, Juyona, Necipp, Adanac, Jamesp, pablominto, dejo has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: DOFjoey 2 01-21 06:34
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Very good close up, Joe; nice colors and attractive point of view. Blurred background is excellent.
TFS
Annick

hi joe
what i like in this picture is the composition and the background


aleks ;-)
regards
very well done

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-01-21 3:25]

Hi Joe,
Can't comment on the ID as I know so little about grasshoppers. Focus, sharpness , POV, colors and composition look very nice. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2008-01-21 3:34]

Hello Joe,
Very nice macro of a Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus) taken from a fine POV in a simple composition against a good contrasting bokeh BG. The fine details made it easy for me to check your ID (bullseye!)
Thanks for sharing this one,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2008-01-21 3:49]

Hello Joe,
Great capture of this little Grasshopper clinging on to the straw. Nice soft background and very good details and colours and I like your framing.
Many thanks, Ulla

Great detail and colour in this macro Joe.
The long crop suits the shot really well and the pale pinkish hues in the background contrast nicely with the green.
All around,a great shot.
Nice work.
Steve

Very good. Super crisp shot with focus entirely on the grasshopper. It is very distinct and the only thing worth looking at...A fine work and lesson Joey!
Bob

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2172 W: 218 N: 4383] (14902)
  • [2008-01-21 6:02]
  • [+]

Hi Joe

Another very good macro from you!
I really like the textures of that armor that he calls skin...they stand out very nicely here.
The colors are also beautiful and the focus is spot-on. Perhaps the DOF is a bit too shallow (i'm not worried about the antennae - they usually are impossible to keep in focus - but here the closest part of the leg is also a bit blurred).
Other than that, there is no nit here and the macr work is very good.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-01-21 6:19]

Wow ! That's sharp ! Nice background, well composed, nice POV and great exposure, well done my friend !

Mario

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2008-01-21 7:40]

HOW GOOD!!!
What a marvellous picture, Joe!!
A nice guy captured with fine sharp details. I like a lot the framing and the splendid POV, DOF and composition.
Congratulations and thank you very much for sharing.
My best regards
Maite

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-01-21 8:49]

Hi Joe,

Another fantastic macro! Wonderful colors and details - nice blurred background - nice composition. A superb grasshopper.

Jane

Hi Joe,
a fine close-up with good sharpness and fine details.
I like your composition and POV, I think this could be a
good LP-version,
Maybe the DOF is a bit shallow but for me it's OK.
Wait until you start macros with your new camera, then I will
welcome you to the word of shallow DOF, ;-))
Well done, young friend.

Hi Joe,
A lovely capture of this grasshopper. Very fine details and excellent composition with lovely green colors. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Joe,
This is another good one perfectly composed with beautiful frame!
good pov to see the full sharpness, nice colour and exact details on the grasshopper!
very good DOF with good colour on the bg
well done always
Tony

Hi,
I had shot something similar way back in 2007. these grahoppers expose some good details when u look at them.
TFS
Goutham R

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2008-01-21 10:42]

Hello Joe,
Perfect sharp detailed focus. Special composition. Very good POV and fantastic colours and blurred BG.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Joe,
Super shot of this grasshopper. The detail and color is wonderful. Great isolation from the Bg. Well done, TFS
Richard

Hi Joe,
Great close up!
I like very much the wide composition made here, you really got the best from this subject.
They're very good all details got on the body, as well as the DOF to isolate the grasshopper.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

Wouaw Joe,
splendid macro-shot of this beautifull grasshopper, perfect focus with ideal deeph of field, details and colours are fantastic, I like very much the panoramic framing and the splendid blurred background,
cheer and many thanks for sharing,
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6594)
  • [2008-01-21 12:54]

Ho Joey, this is filled with details and beautiful colours. How sharp and nicely shot, I love the dof with the background so blurred and creamy. Thanks!

Francine

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15565)
  • [2008-01-21 13:09]

Hola Joe,
preciosa macro,
excelente foco,
pov. y bello color,
saludos

Mucha elegancia y buen hacer en tu toma Joe. Preciso enfoque para este bello formato.
Excelentes tonalidades y una pose del saltamontes ideal para su buena contemplación.
Buen trabajo !!
Saludos: J. Ignasi Tejedor

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-01-21 15:54]

The grasshopper is common,but the quality of your pic is not common,very very perfect coloura,sharpness and details,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2008-01-21 16:05]

Hi Joe,
This is definitely a WOW macro image with unbelievable details and great colors. Great piece of work Joe, thank you for sharing.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-01-21 23:42]

Hi Joe

Great close-up with beautiful colour and exposure. Very good isolation from the BG.

James

Hello Joe,
Good point of view and amazing details in this little fellow!
Very well done on the macro work, DOF spot on and the insect is well isolated from the background...
Fine natural colours, sharp fine details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hello Joe, I just read about your recent Cam purchase congrats hope it works out well, nice choice. Wise decision. Hey your powershot S3 is also a fine cam for getting you're superb sharp macro's. Nicely composed with the wide format crop. tfs rgds Necip

Hi Joe,
Superbe macro, impressionnant tous ces détails.
Merci
Marie

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2008-01-24 11:31]

Hi Joe,
nice pic, Grasshopper captured with great details and nice natural colors!
very good compsition, DOF and background
best regards, Dejan

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF