Andrea from
Sidecar, a wonderful blog on South African wildlife, send me these unbelievable pictures.
Can you see it in the first picture? No? I don't blame you. Unless you know what to look for, it is almost impossible to find.

Maybe in this one? It is a Stone Grasshopper (
Trachypetrella) and are found in the western part of the country. I have only seen these in books and pictures like this. They are so well disguised, I doubt if I would ever be able to find one anyway as they mimic the rocks they are found amongst.

This is a mating pair and you can see the difference between the male and female. They are large, over 2 inches in length. Their antennae are thin and can be withdrawn into sockets. When attacked, they raise their hind legs and lash out with great strength and speed while producing a grating sound.

Thank you so much for sharing these with us Andrea. It is insects like this which peaks my interest and the more I find, the more I want to see and learn more.