Hoppers on Hotham

On our walks around Hotham and Dinner Plains last weekend we found a few of the amazing flightless grasshoppers called Southern Pyrgomorph or Spotted Mountain Grasshopper Monistria concinna. This one thought I couldn't see it hidden in a rock crevice.

Last summer we found them at the Baw Baw ski village but they had different colouring - apparently there are about eight forms. They have the ability to survive in the freezing conditions because of an antifreeze substance in the haemoglyph (blood-like fluid).

There were quite a few different grasshoppers, including many small ones I didn't bother chasing, but these three stayed still long enough to have their portraits taken. I don't don't what they are yet.