When I first spotted this large grasshopper last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge it was so still that I was not sure that it was alive. I gently rustled the vegetation and the grasshopper moved a little, so I knew that it was not dead. As I watched, I could see its mouth moving and I think that it might have been eating, which might explain why it was distracted and did not immediately fly away. The first photo was an unsuccessful attempt to determine what the grasshopper was eating.
I am not very good at grasshopper identification, but my friend Walter Sanford, with whom I was hunting for dragonflies, knew that it was a Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis). The prominent chevrons on the hind femur are apparently one of the identification features for this species.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great shots.
Impressive shots.
Great grasshopper images Mike! Love the detail you got on these!
Great shots. I love being able to see all of the details and patterns on the grasshopper.
I managed to get close enough to fill the frame with the grasshopper this time–usually I crop my images some, but in both shots here, I didn’t not feel the need to crop them at all.
Hard to believe there is a grasshopper which is not found in Florida! Thought we had them all.
Very nice photograph! How thoughtful of the ‘hopper to let you get so close.
As I noted in the text, I initially thought it might be dead. If it had been, I probably would have gotten even closer. 🙂
Wonderfully sharp detail!
That is one serious hopper. How large was it?
It is hard to determine exact size, but I would say that he was at least a couple of inches long.
I believe this is the one we are most likely to see here. i will have to watch for those chevrons to be certain.