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Photo#345048
Colorful Grasshopper - Melanoplus keeleri - male

Colorful Grasshopper - Melanoplus keeleri - Male
Loves Park, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA
October 14, 2009
Seen at Harlem Hills nature preserve. Habitat: gravel prairie remnant. Seen in early afternoon on a rainy day.

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While the pattern is a bit less "smooth" looking
than average, I'm going to go ahead and move it to the species page. I'm pretty sure I can see the characteristic shape of the cercus, and no other is like it. If by chance I'm wrong, the next most likely candidate, based on appearance, is M. fasciatus.

Moved from ID Request. M. impudicus looks a lot like this too, but I don't think it occurs so far north.

Based on the coloring, I believe this is
Melanoplus keeleri luridus. Do you have any other shots that show the end of the abdomen more clearly? There is an appendage (the cercus) that is diagnostic on males. It is visible in this photo, but out of focus enough that I can't quite be sure of the shape. It looks right, but I might be having optical delusions :o)

 
Sorry
The grasshopper would not cooperate. This is probably the clearest shot I have.

Melanoplus i think
of some kind.

What a beautiful photograph.
What a beautiful photograph.

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