Molt in Progress

There is something to be said for "being at the right place at the right time". I came across this scene one evening last August. This differential grasshopper was attached to the leaf of a milkweed plant. I was fortunate enough to see this transformation from beginning to end. It took about 45 minutes for it to complete the molt (instar) and another hour before he had pumped enough fluids into his wings and could jump away. I can see why this would be a very vulnerable period for an insect. They are helpless against the need to lose a skin they have outgrown. The process is not a fast one, and as they go through the grueling process they are unable to retreat, or use any other defense that would normally be at their disposal. I'm sure many insects are sacrificed during a molting period. If you look at the pictures closely you can see just how small the shed skin is in comparison to how large the grasshopper looks. As he was slowly relieving himself of his skin he was pumping fluids into his body and that was making him larger. No need for steroids when you are an insect.

Death Comes too Soon

Last October I was wondering around my yard looking for what remaining insects that were brave enough or strong enough to have survived the hard freeze we had the previous night. The temps. were in the upper 60's and the sun was shining. I spotted numerous Asian Lady Beetles and Box Elder bugs on the south side of the house, a few hardier wasps and flies buzzing around. Then I came across this grasshopper resting on the side of a tree in our front yard, I approached him and he continued to sit still, I snapped a few pictures and moved in closer and still he didn't move. After advancing on him to the point of being a mere few inches from him I got suspicious. I reached out and touched him and discovered this poor little fellow didn't survive the freeze and apparently froze in place. Morbid or Fascinating? Not sure....but definitely Mother Nature in action.