Hanging out with insects in a white pine

Climbing with a couple of friends, one is a tropical forest naturalist who can still be surprised in a temperate zone tree...



Interesting thing was that my climb partners were each stung by yellow jackets guarding their ground nest near the base of the tree. I'd always heard that yellow jackets scent mark their victims when they sting. This was proven on the climb, the yellow jackets followed up the rope and continued to pester my climb partners, never came near me. The grasshopper is the second I've ever seen high in a tree. I believe it's adapted for canopy dwelling, it blends well with bark and lichen, haven't been able to ID it yet.
-moss