Its a bird! Its a plane! Nope, Its a Grasshopper!

  Mark and I were outside this afternoon just taking a leisurely hike about the hillside.  It was too hot to do much else.  After a bit, we wound up in the garden where we were inspecting the pepper plants.  It seems that, while most plants are taking a toll, the weather is perfect for bell peppers.  Those things don't seem to mind the temperatures lingering in the high nineties well into the night.  In fact, they are thriving.  While looking at the plants, it took a couple of seconds for my eyes to focus on the critter that was peering out from beneath the leaves.

  A large grasshopper eyed us warily.  Did we mean it harm?  Were we going to squish it like we do the Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers? Should it attempt a hasty retreat?  I am sure fear of the large monsters called people made it a bit leery but the critter sat motionless.  It was not until I had taken several photographs of the grasshopper that it decided to escape my attention.  I literally had to tap it on its hindquarters before it flew to the nearby garden box.  Once in the box, it sat again for a few minutes.  Perhaps it was not as frightened as I had supposed it to be. Perhaps I should be happy that this critter is a mere three inches in length!  

  Tentatively, I have identified this as a "Bird Grasshopper" but I am still at a loss to find out the reasoning behind the name.  It could be simply because of its ability to fly so well.  This critter, when in swarms of its kinfolk, is known as the dreaded locust that does so much damage to crops.  A large swarm of the insects can wipe miles of crops clean. Each plant left behind will be devoid of any leaves.  Singly, the grasshopper's pillage is kept to a minimum but when large groups band together, the damage can be devastating.  It is now known that the grasshoppers will even gnaw on houses doing much damage to window screens especially.  Their strong jaws and sharp mandibles rip holes in fiberglass screening.  (If you live where these critters amass, it might be a wise choice to use metal screening on your windows!)  The grasshoppers can be ruthless!

  Since we have relatively few of these critters on the Bayou, I let this one venture on its happy way.  It flew into the top of the peach tree where I am sure to find dozens of munched leaves tomorrow.  Come this next spring, I may wish I had gotten rid of this critter but, for now, it goes free.