Grasshopper with Passenger by Chipka
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Description
The weather has changed—as expected, and as expected, Chicago is drenched (yet again) with rain. Gusts of wind carry a late-season chill with them, and weather reports promise that things will worsen by nightfall. It’s cold, grotty, and uncomfortable, and so I’m in the mood to conjure warmth of some sort.
I nabbed this shot of a rather large, rather healthy grasshopper last week (or was it the week before?) It was warm when I took this picture, when the my grasshopper model posed so nicely, revealing a small passenger on the jumping leg visible here. I can’t quite identify the passenger: it looks as if it’s some sort of dwarf wasp, something potentially impaled on the spikes lining this lovely herbivore’s leg. I didn’t even notice the interloper until I loaded this shot onto my camera.
It was warm on the day that I saw a grasshopper and its passenger, and though I much prefer to look forward rather than back, I can’t help but marvel at the strangeness of Chicago’s weather. I cannot help but hope that the upcoming winter will be a gentle one. It doesn’t seem as if that’s in the cards, however; and so—as anyone would do in Chicago—I’m bracing for a season-long cold-snap and reveling in at least the memory of warmth. There are still grasshoppers in Chicago, now. There are still insects of many different varieties. They’ll be dead soon…or hibrinating…or alive and prodigiously prolific in nice, warm basements. But for now, everything is wet, gray, and somewhat dingy, and so this image—more than anything else—is a splash of color for anyone in need of color.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting. I’m behind on commenting, and I hope to catch up as soon as I can. Work has been incredibly hectic, and I find that long distance travel (to places like Peru) really takes its toll when diesel fumes and heavy things are involved.
Comments (24)
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
NightGallery
Very nice shot. And a very handsome hopper.
flora-crassella
The little creature uses the low-budget flight line ;-) Wonderful shot!!!!
Orinoor
Isn't it fascinating, when you find things in your photos that you didn't know was there! What a great find!
Faemike55
Very cool and interesting capture
netot
Splendid detailed, and the other guy ... I think it's a mechanical worker, a final look before takeoff . After all, in bad weather you must fly safe.
RodS
I've always had a fascination with grasshoppers - there's just something about them.. They have a brain the size of a pin-point, but they LOOK intelligent. It amazes me just how much power these guys have stored up in those hind legs. I had a fairly good sized hopper kick my index finger when I was a kid, and it actually drew a bit of blood. So it's entirely possible some tiny critter was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and wound up impaled on those spikes. Great detail, Chip!
auntietk
Excellent detail and color! It does bring thoughts of summer to see this. We've had sunny weather all along our path (now in Ogden, Utah), although it's getting colder every day. You know ... like today it was 65 instead of 75. :P Love your hopper! He's quite a looker.
charpix
I haven't seen a grasshopper like this since I was a kid. Excellent capture.
evielouise
just saw one a few days before my trip they are strong, and so is your photo and story as usual: wow
jocko500
jimmy I think his name is? cool shot
Crabbycabby
Fantastic looking creature. Stunning image.
helanker
Yes, this is indeed a beautiful capture of a (as you wrote) a healthy looking Grasshopper. I have been staring myself half blind to get a spot of that wasp, but the only thing I see is the grasshoppers foot, which does look like a wasp. But maybe it is just my old eyes :-)))
whaleman
Wow! Good eyes to spot that fare-jumping passenger!
GiMi53
I don't see the passenger either... must be very small.... :~)
durleybeachbum
I see it. What a cracking photo, Chip!
evinrude
This almost has a fairy-tale quality to it.
Feliciti
excellent capture of this and details to see !!
flavia49
wonderful capture
dreampaint
nice work.
angora
WOW!!! no passengers 'here' either, but the grasshopper is so pretty :-D excellent capture
makron
Superb macro. Me encantan estos animales. Very well done
KatesFriend
Ah yes, the crappy weather you guys threw at us in the Toronto area two days ago. Way to clog up all our drains with wet wind blown leaves. No grasshoppers though, oddly enough. I love the 'repose' of your model, I hope he got payed. I love grasshoppers (first clue that I have never lived on a farm) they seem to have a truly gregarious but layed back persona - nibble on the grass, don't bother nobody. And they are coloured with such a vibrant palette of greens.
danapommet
Great shot Chip and fantastic details in zoom