Opaon varicolor

Description:

One of the colorful, but wingless Rhytidochrotine grasshoppers of the neotropics. Grasshoppers from the genus Opaon can be just about any color from metallic blue with a red jacket to black with orange jacket, to all black. Their bright (aposematic) colors surely indicate they are poisonous or foul-tasting to predators like birds, lizards or frogs. They certainly are not wary, and can be approached easily to take their pic. This particular species is endemic to the Chocó areas in Colombia.

Habitat:

Rainforest and cloud forests, in moist and moderately shady areas near small creeks and small forest clearing.