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Terry Thormin | all galleries >> Insects and spiders of Alberta >> Grasshoppers and Crickets - Orthoptera >> Short-horned Grasshoppers - Acrididae > Melanoplus bivittatus. - Dead Two-striped Grasshopper killed by fungus 1.JPG
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09-AUG-2009

Melanoplus bivittatus. - Dead Two-striped Grasshopper killed by fungus 1.JPG

This dead grasshopper was clinging close to the tip a a grass stalk. There were several others in the area, and I suspect that they had been hit by a fungus that causes a change in the behavior of the grasshopper, resulting in it climbing to the top of nearby vegetation where it ultimately dies. The fungus then produces spores that are more easily dispersed by the wind.

Canon Powershot SX1 IS
1/60s f/7.1 at 59.2mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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