LocationOn the western side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, some way south of Yosemite National Park and immediately south of Kings Canyon National Park.By car, Sequoia National Park can only be accessed from the west. Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are adjacent and administered as one unit. The entrance fee covers both parks. SizeThe size of Sequoia National Park alone, not including Kings Canyon National Park, is 629 square miles. For comparison, the English county of Hertfordshire has an area of 632 square miles.
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Cave tours can be taken at Crystal Cave, which lies at the end of a spur road from near Giant Forest Village. This area is only open during the summer. The National Park Service Golden Eagle Passport does not cover the cost of cave tours. I believe that you may have to obtain tickets for tours of Crystal Cave at the store or the lodge in Giant Forest Village - in any case it would be well worth inquiring about cave tours there before taking the spur road.
Comments: Mrs. Virginia M Bannister submitted the following report:
In our many decades here I have not heard of "nodding donkeys". In
Orange County we call them grasshoppers. The part is also accessible from the south through Three Rivers,
CA.
Virginia M Bannister
Responding to Mrs. Bannister
Dear Mrs. Bannister: Nodding donkeys refer to a
group of insects in the family Acrididae, commonly known as the slant-faced
grasshoppers. They get their nickname "nodding donkeys" from their unique
behavior of nodding their heads up and down, similar to the motion of a pumpjack
(often referred to as a "nodding donkey") in an oilfield.
The scientific name for the nodding donkey grasshopper is Glyptobothrus
nodulosus. This species can be found throughout Europe and parts of Asia. They
typically inhabit dry grasslands, where their coloration allows them to blend in
seamlessly with their surroundings.
As for their diet, like most grasshoppers, nodding donkeys are herbivores and
prefer to feed on grasses and leaves. Like all grasshoppers, they go through a
three-stage life cycle: egg, nymph (a smaller version of the adult without
wings), and adult.
Their "nodding" behavior is not entirely understood but is thought to be a part
of their mating rituals. The males often nod their heads to attract a female for
mating. Additionally, it's believed this motion might also serve as a mechanism
to evade predators by disrupting the visual perception of the insect.
Whether appreciated by entomologists for their unique behavior or by nature
lovers for their ability to harmonize with the natural landscape, nodding donkey
grasshoppers are a fascinating member of the grasshopper family.
Sincerely.
M.K.Wallner
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