Chameleon Grasshopper

The Chameleon Grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis) is the dandy of the alps. When the weather is fine, he transforms his Melbourne-black attire into brilliant turquoise. You can find him around the southern Kosciuszko ski fields at elevations between 1,600 and 1,900 metres. Perhaps he’ll be cavorting around the Billy Buttons.

The future of alpine critters is in our hands. Climate change is causing cold habitats to shrink, leaving dwindling populations stranded on their mountain-top homes, like islands in the sky.

This drawing was featured in the 2019 A4 Art Australia exhibition at Herring Island Gallery.