Hopper nymph on water spider orchid

[prem]

I was photographing this particular orchid (Habenaria repens) when my colleague pointed out a small grasshopper nymph perched on one of the flowers. The flowers themselves are just a little over 1 cm from top-to-bottom, so that makes the nymph just a few millimeters in length.

Hopper detail:



Canon EOS 400D (Digital Rebel XTi), Sigma 105mm macro, tripod. ISO 200, f16, 1/80th sec, natural sunlight.

---Prem
Florida's Native and Naturalized Orchids

[Becca]

Cool photo's Prem! Thanks for sharing! Your photo's are always enjoyable!

[DebsC]

Great photo! But I would have had to knock the little varmint off that flower before I could snap a picture!!

[dgenovese1]

Prem,

Very cool photography...I love this orchid...I can see why it's called the water spider orchid.

Just out of curiosity, is this plant growing in the wild somewhere near where you reside, or is it part of your collection?

I'm with DebsC on the grasshopper nymph...he/she wouldn't have stood a chance. I hope you knocked some sense out of it after you took your shot.

[Sandy4453]

I agree with everybody, great photos and great subject.

I've never seen a Habenaria repens. I think I love it! I'm going to have to look into this...

[prem]

This plant was photographed out in the wild, so I let the nymph be. Were it in my own collection, I would've destroyed it.

You can sometimes find H. repens available as a cultivated plant...a bonus is that it tends to produce new shoots via runners, so one plant will become many over time, and the flowers are quite fragrant at night.

---Prem
Florida's Native and Naturalized Orchids

[Lagoon]

Outstanding photo's! Even the little freeloader looks kinda cute.

[jim blanford]

Prem... Thank you for those great photos, I could see a great watercolor painting from that first one, nice job.

[dgenovese1]

Originally Posted by prem

This plant was photographed out in the wild, so I let the nymph be. Were it in my own collection, I would've destroyed it.

You can sometimes find H. repens available as a cultivated plant...a bonus is that it tends to produce new shoots via runners, so one plant will become many over time, and the flowers are quite fragrant at night.

---Prem
Florida's Native and Naturalized Orchids

Thanks Prem...for the info and the link. I know a guy in Homestead who grows a lot of Florida natives. I'll have to check with him to see if he or someone he knows has one. My wish list is a never ending adventure.

[addictedcountryman]

i love how the head of the nymph is larger than its body.