Obscured Bird Grasshopper

The Obscure Bird Grasshopper is one of the largest grasshoppers.  The female is bigger than the male and can be 2- 2.5 inches long.  They are widespread in the eastern US and in some parts of New Mexico and Southeast Arizonia.  They live in open woodlands and the adults can be found from July to early October.  They can fly long distances and sometimes migrate.  They are related to the Desert Locust.  Many people call grasshoppers “locust” as I did on my video but  Mr. Eric Eaton explains the difference on his Blogspot.  He writes, “The term “locust” correctly applies only to the migratory phase of a few species that are normally solitary. Overcrowding in the nymph stage is what triggers the change. Nymphs literally rub elbows (er, “knees”?) while marching overland, and this constant jostling stimulates hormonal changes that lead to an adult stage that is more streamlined, with proportionately longer wings, than the average member of its species. Locust swarms number in the millions if not billions, and while the insects themselves are powerful fliers, they also take advantage of storms, riding the winds ahead of fronts. When they settle, almost anything is fair game for their diet, including dead and dying members of their own kind. Most species in the order Orthoptera are, in fact, ominovorous.” For a good picture of a grasshopper nymph go to  backyardnature.net/n/a/g-nymph.htm. source of information:  bugeric.BlogSpot.com

Look at the spike on his back legs

Grasshopper with small glass snake

Bright yellow stripe down his back