Cabo de la Huerta Grasshoppers et al

Grasshoppers and Dragonflies at Cabo de la Huerta

Cabo de la Huerta sports a Mediterranean climate (dry, warm summers and mild winters) with an associated flora and fauna.

For it's small size, the Cape sports a surprisingly large and varied insect population, including several species of grasshopper.

Most numerous is the Mediterranean Splendid Grasshopper, you see scores of them jumping or flying in and out of the dry shrubs.
All grasshoppers can adjust their color to the surroundings.
These critters are staple food for the
resident Common Kestrels.

Also present at the Cape are the Blue-winged Sand Grasshopper, the Desert Sand Grasshopper, the Egyptian Bird Grasshopper and theGaudy Grasshopper with the typical upwards pointed nose.

Even in this arid and dry area, dragonflies like the Red-veined Darter show up.

A comprehensive guide of all fauna and flora in the Alicante region is here.

The photographs are from April 2024 through December 2025.

female Nomads are mostly yellow with bright red eyes

adjusting its color has not helped this Mediterranean Splendid Grasshopper as it is missing a hindleg

a Mediterranean Splendid Grasshopper shows off a mighty pink colored hindleg

Red-veined Darters are also called Nomads because they are highly migratory. Males are completely red

Egyptian Bird Grasshoppers have very distinct eyes

this Desert Sand Grasshopper blends in with the environment

this Mediterranean Splendid Grasshopper has adjusted its color to the yellow soil

Blue-winged Sand Grasshoppers show three distinct darker bands on the wings

this Blue-winged Sand Grasshopper is missing its right hindleg. No magic jumps for this critter

male Mediterranean Splendid Grasshoppers are much smaller than the females

Gaudy Grasshoppers keep their head high

young male Nomads are not completely red yet