This is a CRICKET. Crickets and grasshoppers are closely related but are in different sub-orders of the species. Crickets have long antennae and have long (extended) ovipositors (the egg depositing organ). They create their high-pitched chirping (called stridulation) by rubbing their forewings together. Grasshoppers, on the other hand, have short antennae, short ovipositors and make their chirping sound by rubbing the hind leg against the forewing. Their auditory organs are in different locations also. (As with any rule, there are exceptions.)

I never knew any of this ‘info’ before joining Blip, but when I decide what to post each day I at least try to determine what it is and perhaps discover a few facts about the subject. It’s been great fun learning about things I never even cared about before!

Late in the day today I took my camera outside hoping to find something for today’s blip. No bugs, birds, butterflies or squirrels were in sight, and all my flowers are well past their prime. Later as I was putting some gardening tools away in the garage, I noticed this fairly large (2 ½ inch long) cricket high on the wall. (Which is why the background is plain white.) I have no idea what he was doing there, but I figured he was as good a blip subject as any for today.