Circular Walk via La Sage, La Forclaz, Sépey and Les Haudères

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Grass plays a very important part in the lifecycle of the mountains.  It’s around this time of year that the farmers take their second cut to feed the animals during the long cold winter.  And, of course, where there is grass, you will often find an abundance of tiny creatures, which leap out of your way as you walk along the paths.  Below are just some of the grasshoppers and crickets that I managed to capture.  (They are devilishly quick at jumping out of the way when you approach with a camera).

I’m often asked what’s the difference between a cricket and a grasshopper and the answer is that, in general, crickets have very long antennae, whereas the grasshopper’s are quite short.  The same sort of distinction can be made between moths and butterflies where, again in general, the latter have a sort of bulb at the end of their antennae, while moths don’t and theirs can be more feathery or saw-edged.

10 thoughts on “Circular Walk via La Sage, La Forclaz, Sépey and Les Haudères”

  1. what a walk. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the flora and fauna and thank you, Mike, for the explanation of the differences between butterflies, moths, crickets and grasshoppers! We have quite a few of those as well in Florida, as well as the locusts, which I guess is a kind of grasshopper

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    • You’re very welcome Dorothea, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. My little book certainly has the Migratory Locust in the Grasshopper section, so that would be correct. I cannot tell you how many grasshoppers I must have seen yesterday. About 20 would ping off in all directions with each step, as I walked through some sections, so it must have run into many hundreds, if not thousands.

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    • Thanks Jane, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. I’m no expert, but I do know that some butterflies almost always keep their wings upright, whilst others may be flat or upright depending on how they are feeling. (I’ve noticed that the wings are often open to catch the suns rays or when they are happy feeding, but they close them when I get near with the camera – so I guess they are getting ready to take off!) I have to say that I only really notice the droplets on the end of the butterfly’s antennae when I study my photos afterwards. I’m too busy try to photograph them while I’m (literally) out in the field! 🙂

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