Matchstick grasshoppers (family Eumastacidae) are quirky, fascinating insects found primarily in tropical and subtropical forests around the globe. They earn their distinctive moniker from their incredibly slender legs and elongated, needle-like bodies. Most species within this family are completely wingless, relying instead on disproportionately large, powerful hind legs to catapult themselves safely away from impending danger with astonishing force. Belonging to an ancient, primitive lineage of orthopterans, they exhibit unique dietary preferences, bypassing modern flowering plants to feed almost exclusively on primitive vegetation like ferns, gymnosperms, mosses, and even algae. While exploring the lush rainforests of Ecuador, I crossed paths with many of these distinct-looking insects. During a walk through the city park of Puyo, I managed to capture a few sharp, detailed macro photographs of a specimen resting amid the dense greenery.