Elegant Grasshopper (Zonocerus elegans)

The beauty of this grasshopper is breath-taking, but it should not be taken lightly. Often bright colors in nature are used to show danger and this little insect is no different. Bright coloration will let any potential predator know that it is poisonous.
This grasshopper gets its toxicity from the plants that it eats and can contain a number of different poisons. Their coloration has been so successful in deterring predators, that because they have no real need to escape, the males have very underdeveloped wings. When they do jump they often come back down to earth very clumsily, landing on their backs or sides before trying to get back onto their feet. The females have much better developed wings which they need in order to find males with which to reproduce.
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