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Locust
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I found this locust in my Office's terrace.
It was a cloudy day, so light is so-so but I think this is a good photo - I love the animal's eye!
hope you like it too!
Samuele
Following text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locust
Locust is the name given to the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. The origins and apparent extinction of certain species of locust—some of which reach 6 inches (15 cm) in length—are unclear.
These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory. They form bands as nymphs and swarms as adults — both of which can travel great distances, rapidly stripping fields and greatly damaging crops.
Some examples of Locust species are:
* Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria)
* Red locust (Nomadracis septemfasciata)
* Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera)
* American desert locust (Schistocerca Americana)
* Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), probably the most important in terms of its very wide distribution (North Africa, Middle East, and Indian subcontinent) and its ability to migrate very widely.
* Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus) in North America had some of the largest recorded swarms, but mysteriously died out in the late 19th century.
Though the female and the male look alike they can be distinguished by looking at the end of their abdomen. The male has a boat-shaped tip while the female has two serrated valves that can be either apart or kept together. These valves aid in the digging of the hole in which an egg pod is deposited.
Research at Cambridge University has identified the swarming behaviour is a response to overcrowding. The trigger is increased tactile stimulation of the hind legs. Several contacts per minute over a four hour period are sufficient to induce transformation to the swarming variety. It is estimated that the largest swarms have covered hundreds of square miles and consisted of many millions of locusts.
The extinction of the Rocky Mountain locust has been a source of puzzlement. Recent research suggests that the breeding grounds of this insect, in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, came under sustained agriculture, destroying the underground eggs of the locust. The farming of those valleys was a response to the large influx of gold miners. |
Alex99, Silvio2006, ridvan has marked this note useful
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Hi Samuele,
this is a big hopper - I love this striped eye, very well done, thanks and ciao
Sabine - wishnugaruda
Impressionante il dettaglio dell'occhio!
Andrea
Hi Samuele.
Thank you for visiting my page and nice comments.
I like your close-up shot so much. Pictured scene and composition of the shot are amazing as well as the DOF, sharpness of the locust and nice leaves, cropping and framing. I think it would be better to improve light balance. I have tried to do this in my WS. My best wishes and TFS. Perfect done job.
Alexei.
Ciao Samuele, bella e ben dettagliata, per me manca appena un capello di luminosità, Il ws di Alex è buono, ma continua così, molto bravo, buona domenica, ciao Silvio
- ridvan
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 555 W: 0 N: 1134]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(5196) - [2007-04-15 9:18]
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hi samuele; Thank you for visiting my page and nice comments. nice shot. despite little lighting, regardless colours, focus and sharpness well.
ı agree with alexei TFS well done
Best wishes
ridvan
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- wuta
(2142)
- [2007-05-04 13:07]
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Hello Samuele, This is a fantastic shot from the grashopper, is a big one , good sharpnes details colours compositie en beauty eye good job tfs Greetings Teunie .
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 22 W: 9 N: 22]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2567 W: 181 N: 4047]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(16720)