Whopper Hopper

According to Prof Google, this grasshopper I found hiding in our gardens is a Giant Grasshopper or Valanga irregularis.
They are the largest of the grasshoppers in Oz and can grow up to 90mm in length. This one would have been very close to that.
In the process of finding out about him, I came across a web site advertising these for sale as pests - sorry - pets. $20 each (what???) "Captive bred through our environmentally sustainable breeding program". The mind boggles. I think I'll stick with a budgie.

[Denise Wood]

Yep! And keep them up in Qld! Great shot though :)

[Peter]

Brilliant close up detail and composition Ron

[Poppo Livy]

@pcoulson Thank you Charles

[Sarah Lawson]

Wow! Love the detail.

[Kane Arlow]

So you just let $20 hop away? That is a whopper of a grasshopper. Things are certainly bigger in Queensland.

[sally agnew]

Hope they don't feast on Broms Poppo. Can't believe people keep them as pets ,that is wild :)

[Graham Thresher]

Great close up.

[Pam Knowler]

Great capture!!

[Sam]

You have captured so much detail Poppo - nicely done! FAV

[Peter]

@terryliv Sorry Terry senior moment still its a great shot:)

[Jane Anderson]

Magnificent detail in the close-up photo! I guess there is a market for just about anything now with the Internet.

[Susan C Clow]

Wow what a great clear macro close up shot. Love it. FAV

[Babs]

Fabulous close up but you can keep him. We have enough trouble here with hairy caterpillars eating our white cedar tree leaves.

[Denise (lyndemc)]

Seriously? A pet grasshopper? They probably eat this as a snack in some other country. Expensive snack.

lol about you looking forward to March so B&W fads out of fashion. And what did you mean by the "keh?" on the clock pic? Is that an Aussie term or just you not being exciting about another boring lyndemc monochrome shot? *yawn*

[Candace]

Yikes! Birdfood!

[Shirley Banford]

Awesome close-up.

[Margo]

Wow this is quite a monster hopper. Hope he doesn't find my garden!!

[Lee-Ann]

Stunning close up shot.

[Robyn]

Great close up detail

[Ron]

What a capture! You know, you might consider breeding these. At $20 each, you could be the Bill Gates of Brisbane. ;-) Not to mention fun with the birds.

[Rachel]

Really, 9cm? HUGE. You could have caught it and sold it to the local pet shop.

[Sheralee S]

Haha, I wonder if many people are silly enough to pay the $20! They can munch through the garden in no time, I've seen them at work in mine. Great close up, love all the spikes.

[Rick Schies]

He has his eyes closed