I'm starting to get the feeling that L. gibbosus may be one of the more prevalent hoppers around my place. I appreciate the detailed info on determining sex in this species... I obviously have some more studying to do in that area. Regarding unfolding their wings -- I have wanted to try this, but I can't figure out how to do this one-handed while still holding them securely in place so they don't wriggle away and fumbling with my camera to get a good shot at the same time. You must have some excellent coordination and handling-skills to get the shots that you do!

and it's sort of like riding a bicycle now. I just hold them between two (or three) fingers in the left hand and use the end of my thumb to keep the wings from folding back while they are spread out. It definitely takes a bit of practice, and some of the stronger big ones are hard to keep still. A small camera with buttons all close together helps too. The real challenge (I manage occasionally) is to hold two with their wings spread in one hand while trying to snap a picture with the other. I think there's one of these hiding on BugGude (a Trimerotropis pallidipennis and saxatilis comparison).