Though I have heard and seen them for years, I have no idea what the loud insects are called that you often find on the trail. I was backpacking with a friend this weekend and he asked what they were called and I had no idea. I consulted my John Muir Laws book and tentatively identified them as the Sierran Blue-Winged Grasshopper. Other than their appearance, their distinctive characteristic is that they are the insects that suddenly make a loud of noise, sometimes startling you, are often on the trail and fly around or nearby you. They certainly look a lot like the Sierran Blue-Winged Grasshopper, but my identification skills are often lacking so I might be misidentifying.
