Carolina Grasshopper

I think this is a Carolina Grasshopper I met last summer, though I have to admit it doesn't look a lot different from the Sulphur-winged Grasshopper. At least it doesn't look like the Differential Grasshoppers. 

Though it might surprise you to look at a stationary 1, these grasshoppers are frequently mistaken for butterflies when in flight. This is partly because they have a somewhat erratic flight like a fluttering butterfly and partly because their mostly-dark wings with light-colored edges reminds people of a Mourning Cloak butterfly. If you think you see a Mourning Cloak in flight but it completely disappears when it lands on the ground, you might be seeing a Carolina Grasshopper.

As frequently happens, this species has a far wider range than the "Carolina" part of its name might lead you to believe. They can be found in most of the contiguous 48 US states and much of southern Canada.

June 29, 2023 at Sourland Mountain Preserve
Photo 301251109, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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