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Project Noah Nature School
Taeniopoda eques
This picture shows a female displaying its defensive behaviour. When threatened this large grasshopper (about 8cm) produces a hissing sound and exposes its brightly coloured hind wings. In addition, it can also release a toxic substance. It advertises its unpalatability by bright yellow markings over a shiny black body. The black colour also seems to aid its thermoregulation, necessary to survive and reproduce in the cold winter nights in the desert.
Found in El Cimatario nature park, just outside Queretaro, in a semi arid region in central Mexico.
Spotted on Oct 23, 2016
Submitted on Oct 30, 2016
2 Comments
My pleasure! Thanks for the nice words :-)
Great timing Felix! Thank you for the great notes and for sharing :)