Green Grasshopper

Camera setup: Canon EOS 5DsR, Canon MP-E 65 @ 1,2 × magnification, Stack Shot automated macro rail. Caruba photo studio. Camera was on manual control.
ISO 100, f/5.6, exposure 1/15 sec., custom white balance, ExpoDisc white balance filter 2.0, step size 0.7 mm and 23 recording Zerene Stacker PMax method.

comments (10)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

That is some deeply impressive focus stacking, even the foot at the front of the frame is sharp. By the way, what is a white balance filter? Posted 9 years ago
1. Mike van Harn
  
  Musk Oxen
  
  First of all thanks for the overwhelmed response.
  
  A white balance filter (the word says it all) measure the white balance on 18% gray value. You take a photo with the filter for the lens, (I put in this case the white balance on auto) after you use the recording that you have made with the filter to adjust the white balance to manual to set it up that way you have the correct white balance.
  
  If you're using Lightroom or Photoshop works and you make the recording in raw it is not always necessary since you can customize it very easy within the programs. The filter I use is the brand Expodsc type 2.0 Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago

RMFelix

Lion

Your photo belongs to an Ensifera (sub order), or sword bearer, where females present a long ovipositor, such as the specimen on the photo. Ensifera also have long antennae, exceeding the size of the pronotum (the dorsal sclerite of the prothorax of an insect). Caelifera, or grasshoppers (or short-horned grasshoppers) are therefore easy to identify due to this features and having powerful hind legs. Your shot its from a Tettigonidae, most probably Tettigonia cf. viridissima, a female, nymph (wings reduced, covering only the first segments of the abdomen).

Caelifera: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper
Ensifera: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensifera
Tettigonia viridissima: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tettigonia_viridissima#/media/File:Tettigonia_virdissima_nymph_on_Phleum_pratense.jpg Posted 9 years ago
1. Mike van Harn
  
  Musk Oxen
  
  Thank you very much for the detailed info. Posted 9 years ago
2. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  What about this one?
  http://www.pyrgus.de/Meconema_thalassinum_en.html
  http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/oak-bush-cricket
  http://www.entomart.be/synthese/Meconemathalassinum.html
  http://www.ahw.me/indexoverig.html
  
  Mike, do you have a top view? Posted 9 years ago
3. 1. Mike van Harn
    
    Musk Oxen
    
    Thanks for the info.
    No I have no top view sorry. Posted 9 years ago
  2. RMFelix
    
    Lion
    
    Wildflower, cross check this: Antennae inserted higher on face -> Tympana on the fore tibia not exposed -> Head not produced into cone that ends beyond basal two antennal segments -> Dorsal surface of foretibia armed with one or more spines -> Tettigonidae
    
    http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/t000k1.htm Posted 9 years ago
  3. 1. WildFlower
      
      Lion
      
      Meconema thalassinum is in the family Tettigoniidae, subfamily Meconematinae.
      http://orthoptera.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1134937
      http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/103a.htm Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. RMFelix
        
        Lion
        
        Of course, thanks for confirming :) Now, if it is Tettigoniinae or Meconematinae that's another question. Like I said, although i'm inclined towards Tettigoniinae, I can't find any key for subfamilies, and that would help. Top view may help also, of course, I do not know what are the criteria to distinguish pronotum, and so on, and even if they are valid or if they exist or how they are distinguishable by that manner. Posted 9 years ago
      2. Pudding4brains
        
        Lion
        
        Grasshoppers are not my field, but Meconema meridionale has become such a frequent species in the Netherlands over the past decade or so that I would dare to hazard an ID on this:
        Adult female (probably quite teneral still) of Meconema meridionale (NOT thalassinum)
        
        If in doubt viz Tettigonia compare the shape of the ovipositor - almost straight or even slightly bent down in our Tettigonia's and here it is curved upward.
        
        I'll change the ID & tags accordingly now, but feel free to change again - I'm really not all that good with these. Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago