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Whilst out looking for reptiles . . . |
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JaySteel 
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Joined: 07 May 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 157 |
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 Topic: Whilst out looking for reptiles . . .Posted: 25 Sep 2012 at 9:15pm |
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Whilst surveying a new site for adders I came across these two critters that I thought were worth photographing. Larger versions on my website here:  Dark Bush Cricket  A very colourful Meadow Grasshopper Jason .
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GemmaJF
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Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Posted: 25 Sep 2012 at 9:31pm |
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Superb Jason.
We had very large numbers of Meadow Grasshoppers in the wildlife garden this year, not sure if they benefited in someway from the weather this year, as I can't remember seeing so many before. None as colourful as that one though! Do they 'mature' with age and change colour like dragonflies?
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JaySteel
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Posted: 25 Sep 2012 at 9:36pm |
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Thanks Gemma. I've been doing some reading today:
The Meadow Grasshopper is usually green or brown but occasionally due to genetic mutation in large colonies pink or purple variants can occur. Where they do occur they can be present in good numbers. Jason
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GemmaJF
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Posted: 25 Sep 2012 at 10:37pm |
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Cool Jason, mutant grasshoppers! I'll have to keep an eye out for those locally. It's getting pretty miserable here weather wise now though.
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Caleb
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Posted: 26 Sep 2012 at 2:59pm |
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Has that bush cricket got a back leg missing? |
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JaySteel
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Posted: 27 Sep 2012 at 8:00pm |
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Ha ha! Yes, finally! Well spotted Caleb. I've posted these photos in several places and hundreds of people have looked at them. You're the only person who has either noticed or bothered to say anything about the missing leg. Now you know why he didn't jump away when I was taking his photo!
I have vague memories of seeing them in pink & purple when I was a child but in recent years this is the first that I've seen.
Jason |
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GemmaJF
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Posted: 27 Sep 2012 at 9:16pm |
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I really didn't spot the missing leg until Caleb mentioned it, I had a good look at the pictures too! Some sun here today and a few of this years common lizards about, I spotted a few meadow grasshoppers, but all just plain green
Edited by GemmaJF - 27 Sep 2012 at 9:16pm |
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Suzy
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Posted: 28 Sep 2012 at 12:52am |
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I also had what seems a very good years for grasshoppers in the garden. I have, or had, those pink/purple ones as well as the brown ones. I also have those bush crickets which I think now my ears can't pick up the sound of - age related I believe! I remember having a few of the crickets in a honeysuckle thicket by the house and them calling into November.
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Suz
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