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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Grasshoppers (Caelifera) » Short-horned Grasshoppers (Acrididae) » Slant-faced Grasshoppers (Gomphocerinae) » Chrysochraon Group » Chloealtis » Graceful Slant-face Grasshopper (Chloealtis gracilis)
Photo#788149
Rattlesnake grasshopper? - Chloealtis gracilis
Copyright © 2013 Ron Hemberger

Rattlesnake grasshopper? - Chloealtis gracilis
Cleveland National Forest, near Blue Jay Campground, Orange County, California, USA
June 16, 2013
Home to this one was dense grass, heavily populated with star thistle. And me in shorts. Ouch! There were lots of these around, but I picked one that was badly lighted and gave myself some exposure problems.

A member of the fearless butterfly expedition I had joined calls this a rattlesnake grasshopper because of the way it rapidly shakes the end of its abdomen. But I was not afraid!

Images of this individual: tag all
Rattlesnake grasshopper? - Chloealtis gracilis Rattlesnake grasshopper? - Chloealtis gracilis
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Contributed by Ron Hemberger on 17 June, 2013 - 9:44pm
Last updated 5 July, 2013 - 10:32pm

a male Chloealtis gracilis
The males (maybe the females?) do rapidly move their hind legs up and down (rubbing them on the folded wings). This makes a rasping sound that is probably basically a mating call. Most species in this subfamily can do the same. The sound used to be clear to me, but now as I get older I find that with most species of "Slant-faced Grasshoppers" I can barely here it at all, and I don't notice it anymore unless I am specifically listening for it.

Moved from Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids.
… David J. Ferguson, 5 July, 2013 - 10:32pm login or register to post comments

 
Ah ha! I saw the rattlesnake action, but otherwise...
...turned a deaf ear to my graceful friend. Thanks, David, for ID and info. Makes me wonder what else I may be missing.
… Ron Hemberger, 5 July, 2013 - 11:51pm login or register to post comments

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.
… metrioptera, 18 June, 2013 - 6:36am login or register to post comments

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