Vanishing VI (Red-winged Grasshopper)

Holly Downing

This hand-colored mezzotint is from a series of prints Holly Downing has been doing featuring vanishing species, in this case, invertebrates. Each impression is printed in black and then hand-colored by the artist. There may be slight variations between impressions.

According to Downing, the Red-winged Grasshopper has remarkable red wings and round bulbous eyes. It is found mostly on rocky terrains where its gray-brown body, seen when the wings are closed, provided excellent camouflage. Its red wings, which deter predators, are only visible during a large, hovering jump. It has been studied extensively in Germany, where it is threatened with extinction.