Orthoptera – A Thousand Acres of Silphiums

WGNSS Entomology Field Trips – September/October 2025

Blacklighting, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, Orthoptera, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

I’ve gotten to a point in a personal project that I can now spend some time posting more frequently here and processing some photos that have been backing up. Not that I have had a ton of success in getting significant photo opportunities the last several months.

The following are some photos of interesting insects that the WGNSS Entomology Group found on a couple trips to Missouri glades last year.

First up are a couple of moths found at a light trap we set up during a camp out at Caney Mountain Conservation Area in late September. The cool conditions were not conducive to attracting many moths, so the pickings were slim.

*Clemensia albata* (little white lichen moth) Fam. Erebidae

Next up is the fantastic Cicindelidia obsoleta vulturina (prairie tiger beetle). This species is primarily found in Texas, but there are scattered populations in Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Finally, from a trip to Hughes Mountain Natural Area, we found a good number of Trimerotropis saxatilis (lichen grasshopper) Fam. Acrididae. These masters of camouflage utilize open, rocky areas like Missouri’s glade habitats.

Mating pair of *Trimerotropis saxatilis*

A Trio of Hoppers

insects, macro, Orthoptera, Uncategorized, wildlife, wildlife photography

Here are a few handsome Orthopterans from the 2023 season.

*Syrbula admirabilis*, is known by the common name – admirable grasshopper. Photographed at Horn Prairie Grove LWR.

*Orchelimum nigripes*, the black-legged meadow katydid prefers wetland habitats. This individual was found at Marais Temps Clair C.A. in St. Charles County, MO.

This American bird grasshopper (*Schistocerca americana*) was also photographed at Marais Temps Clair C.A. in St. Charles County, MO.

Fork-tailed Bush Katydid

insects, macro, Orthoptera

*Scudderia furcata* on Sumac (*Rhus* sp.) fruit
Camera settings: f/11, 1/25 sec., ISO-640, 234 mm focal length equivalent.

I was so glad to get this guy identified. Thanks goes to the folks on BugGuide. I had a pretty decent field guide, but still couldn’t get to the species. It turns out this species is known for having populations that are predominantly pink, red, or brown in color, which is unusual in the katydid family. Casey and I found three individuals that were this color in a sand prairie/savanna in southeastern Missouri last September.

*Scudderia furcata*
Camera settings: f/14, 1/100 sec., ISO-640, 234 mm focal length equivalent.

Tingler Prairie Conservation Area

coleoptera, herps, insects, location spotlight, macro, native plants, Orthoptera

These images were taken during a trip with Ted MacRae and Chris Brown this past April at Tingler Prairie Conservation Area in Howell County, MO. The first shows an exceptionally colored spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) in peak bloom.

Elaphidionoides villosus (oak twig pruner)

This beetle larvae was something I had read about for years. Ted found several oak twigs that the mother beetles prune to serve as safe nurseries for their developing offspring as they rest on the forest floor. Ted delicately opened up the gallery to expose its occupant so we could take some photos.

Metallic Dung Beetle (*Canthon viridis*)

These Buprestid beetles were gorgeous as they foraged in the wood sorrel. Once in a while, they would stand still long enough to let us photograph them.

Black Rat Snake (*Pantherophis obsoletus*)

Finally, we found this black rat snake as it attempted to climb a tree near the trail. Maybe caught a whiff of something higher up?

-OZB