Grasshopper shedding its skin

Matthew, that's WONDERFUL!!! Do you smell my envy now ? I guess that now that we are both a bit green in the face from the stench, we're even .

I really really like this shot. Composition is simple but very effective with the two diagonals. The moment is wonderful too. The shape of the old skin is still very well in tact and it's great how you can really see what an achievement it is for these little fellows to get undressed. GREAT!!!!

As for the ID. At first glance I thought this was a cicada (*going through insect guide...*) and ehm... I actually still think it is. Grasshoppers have rather long antennae, while cicadas dont. And then I just miss the very long hindlegs of a grasshopper here. What do you think?

Yes, this does look like a cicada of some sort. Excellent shot too! I love the isolation from the background and the details in the emerging adult.
Thanks for posting,

Wow, this is tres cool.
Well done!

Hey Matthew,

Interesting shot
Well done.

Excellent natural history shot. Splendid detail on the emerging insect.

Thanks all for your comments. Arthur / Will, I think the votes in for a Cicada (and a big THANKS for your help ID’ing). In reply to Arthur, in truth I still think your way ahead in the behavioural shots but keep looking behind, I’m catching up

Thanks again all
Matthew

cool actionshot ! (that's the kind of action I missed when the darters were amerging around my pond!) and yes, definetely a cicada;

Nice dynamic shot Matthew. Was this taken in the UK? - The only cicadas I know of here are the rare ones in the New Forest.

I have been seeing some absolutely wonderful shots in this forum lately of a subject's actions that I have never come close to getting with a camera.
So yep, ............ I'm envious too!

Wonderful comp, details, lighting, ............ excellent Matthew!