Mating Grasshoppers

 

Did you know that male grasshoppers have their own individual song to attract females? This song is loud and resembles chirping and clicking. I heard those songs often while I was hiking on the North Arm trail. 

I have never seen grasshoppers in courtship but I was fortunate to watch how they are mating.  

On the photo above mating started when the male lighted on the female's back and stayed this way for almost twenty minutes.  It's interesting that mating sometimes can last anywhere from forty five minutes to well over day.

Males grasshoppers mate many times with the same partner and other females to get the maximum opportunity to pass on their genes.  Sadly, males die shortly after mating.  The females die after egg-laying, that may lasts until cold weather begins.

Generally, life is good!