Eyprepocnemis plorans, grasshopper (1)

photo: orni

Eyprepocnemis plorans, grasshopper (2)

photo: orni

Eyprepocnemis plorans, grasshopper (3)

photo: orni

Eyprepocnemis plorans, grasshopper (4)

photo: orni

Habitat: Southern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Status: Not Evaluated

This gorgeous species of grasshopper goes by the name Eyprepocnemis plorans. Couldn’t find a common name, so let’s just call it Eypre because that sounds like a fairy name to me… and this thing looks like it might be part magical, winged fairytale creature.

It really looks like your average grasshopper until you take a look at its back legs. They’re streaked with iridescent hues of purple, fuchsia, and blue with white spikes running along the edges. I couldn’t find any photos of this thing’s wings… but my imagination is steering me towards believing it has something like shimmering opalescent fairy wings…

DON’T PROVE ME WRONG! I like living in my fantasy land where grasshoppers mingle with fairies. Hmph. (^_^)