Dactylotum bicolor

[MrMatt]

Just a beautiful hopper I photographed while walking. These have always amazed me and had to share.

[Malhavoc's]

look almost painted, I wonder what purpose the colours serve

[What]

Hope you dont mind me sharing a photo I took a few yrs back, but here it is. Click for larger.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1014/892395327_a560fe1952.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1014/892395327_a560fe1952_b.jpg)

[MrMatt]

look almost painted, I wonder what purpose the colours serve

The color is a warning to would be predator, they have poisonous/bitter properties obtained from the plants they eat (as is my understanding). The common name is rainbow or painted grasshopper very fitting as you noticed. They are smallish get between 3-4cm (the one pictured is about 3.5cm).

[MrMatt]

Hope you dont mind me sharing a photo I took a few yrs back, but here it is. Click for larger.

Not at all. Lovely critters. More pictures the merrier ;)

Here is a nymph my daughter found earlier this year,

[Malhavoc's]

thank you for clarifying for me, and yes the common names usualy are obvious, it keeps it eaiser to go " ya know, that spider that chases ya for a mile and shootz lazors out of its eyes" 'oh you mean a solfugid"


anyway *grins*

that is fascinating I always did llike the various defene mechanisms against predators, I was truely stunned when the chemicles lady bugs emplore will even deter jumping spiders! however, less so the spiders that employ web to catch their prey

[MrMatt]

" ya know, that pider that chases ya for a mile and shootz lazors out of its eyes" 'oh you mean a solfugid"

hehehe I love that.

[Violet]

Hope you dont mind me sharing a photo I took a few yrs back, but here it is. Click for larger.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1014/892395327_a560fe1952.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1014/892395327_a560fe1952_b.jpg)


Those are some intense colours, real eye candy.