Meet the genus Taeniophora, a spectacular group of vibrant, Neotropical lubber grasshoppers (family Romaleidae) native to the rainforests of Central and South America. Dressed to impress, their neon patterns of brilliant green, deep black, fiery red, and bright yellow serve as warning to predators that they are highly toxic and taste terrible. Unlike their meadow-hopping cousins, these grasshoppers spend their lives perched high up in the dense canopy. Dating in the jungle is a delicate business here. The females are much larger than the males and have zero patience for uninvited guests; they won’t let a suitor simply jump on their backs. To win her over, the male must perform a fascinating, slightly awkward courtship “dance,” gently soothing the female with his curved antennae before making a careful approach from the side. Despite their flamboyant wardrobe, they are notoriously hard to photograph. They are incredibly skittish, agile, and jump away at the slightest disturbance. I got lucky to spot this gorgeous individual in the municipal park of Puyo, Ecuador, snapping just a few frames before it launched itself into the unknown.
