Nature Walk: Carolina Grasshopper

If you’ve spent time in nature, it’s likely that you’ve seen a Carolina Grasshopper in flight. These critters are a large (nearly two inches in length), abundant summer resident across the United States, and are often seen when they take flight near a roadside or in a bare field. Their black wings with a light colored outer band are a diagnostic trait, and their short, erratic flights usually take place when they are disturbed. But you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled – superb camouflage can make them very difficult to detect when they are motionless.