I still can’t get over the striking blue eyes of a Handsome Meadow Katydid (Orchelimum pulchellum), so I am posting a shot from yesterday that highlights that feature (and my apologies to Frank Sinatra for borrowing the title of his 1973 album for this post).
The katydid almost seemed to be looking right up at me, perhaps wondering why I am disturbing him. I find the details of his feet to be utterly fascinating and I’ve made sure that you can see some of the many neon-like colors of his body.
Check out some of my other postings if this is your first encounter with this gorgeous katydid. You’re almost certain to fall in love with him too.
Ol’ Blue Eyes (Handsome Meadow Katydid)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Another great shot! 🙂 Indeed the “hooks” on his feet are interesting, and the parts before look like hearts ❤
Thanks. Somehow I knew that you would like this image. As I have mentioned before, you and I seem to have similar interests and tastes. I checked the model number for my camera and it’s a 350D, so we have similar, but not identical cameras. 🙂
It’s a good camera, I think! A bit old but I don’t feel any need to upgrade. Like buying a Ferrari won’t make me a better driver.. 🙂 I’m still learning the basics, there’s a lot of trial and error involved.. About 1 picture out of 10 turns out good, I hope to increase the number by practicing more!
Great shot. I wonder if there’s any colors that aren’t on it?
He’s got most of the primary colors covered, for sure.
The katydid photos are getting better and better (also closer). Was this with a macro or the amazingly large telephoto shown on your homepage title?
Actually this was with my Canon 55-250mm zoom. I managed to get the focus just about perfect so that it remained clear even with some cropping. The large telephoto lens I’m featuring is a 500mm Mamiya lens made for a medium format camera that is attached to a Nikon. A friend is considering buying the lens from someone she knows and I am testing it for her to see if I can get good shots. I shot with it again today and got a few bird photos that I will post soon that turned out ok.
A wonderful macro, Mike. The eyes really are riveting. They don’t look like faceted eyes usually do, and they remind me of those of the mantis. Unlike the eyes of, say, dragonflies, these seem to be looking right at you, no matter what your position of observation relative to the insect’s body. Rather uncanny, and totally fascinating.
Thanks, Gary. This is another close-up that looks like it’s macro but is actually telephoto (shot near the 250mm end of my 55-250 zoom). Your comments about the eyes are fascinating, although some might describe it as “unnerving” rather than “uncanny and totally fascinating.”
Wow wow wow
[…] Each time I visit the marsh, I will now be on the lookout for these insects, which actually grow more handsome as they age. If you want to see what they look like as adults check out my previous postings called Neon-colored grasshopper; More Handsome Meadow Katydids; and Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back. […]