Grasshopper Going For a Ride

Hello wildlife photography fans! I’m back with another insect adventure from my recent trips to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. As I mentioned in my previous posts A Grasshopper Explosion and Grasshoppers in Oklahoma, I have been seeing huge numbers of grasshoppers out at the refuge this summer. The grasshopper population has truly exploded!

Today I want to share a fun photo I captured of a grasshopper that decided to hitch a ride on my pickup truck as I was driving the auto tour road through the refuge. Long-time readers know I love photographing the various insects that land on my truck during my photo outings. There’s something about the uniqueness of seeing an insect perched on a vehicle that really appeals to me creatively.

Grasshopper On The Hood Of My Pickup Truck
Grasshopper On The Hood Of My Pickup Truck

Well this little guy (or gal) grasshopper was riding along with me for quite a while! I was able to grab my camera and zoom in for a close-up shot. I just love how this photo captures the grasshopper’s coloring and textures. You can really see the details of its spiny legs and wings. What an amazing little creature!

I’m also including a couple quick phone snapshots I grabbed of some Cicadas that made their way inside my truck cab at one point during my drive. I had the windows down and apparently that was an open invitation for these singing insects! Though not the sharpest images, I thought my fellow wildlife fans would get a kick out of seeing my uninvited Cicada guests.

A Cicada Inside My Pickup
A Cicada Inside My Pickup
A Small Cicada Inside My Pickup
A Small Cicada Inside My Pickup

That’s it for today’s insect encounter. Let me know in the comments if you’ve had any interesting run-ins with grasshoppers or other bugs during your outdoor adventures this summer!

Equipment Used:

  • Camera: Canon EOS R5
  • Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

Technical Details:

  • Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
  • Date and Time Taken: July 23, 2023 (08:44A. M.)
  • Aperture: f8
  • Shutter speed: 1/800
  • ISO: 320 (Auto)
  • Exp. Comp.: +0.3
  • Focal Length: 500 mm