Well, I’ve never tried posting a short video before but we’ll see if this works. Be forewarned. To YOU it might be gruesome. From my point of view, it is truly amazing!!!
Let me know what you think and if this is cheating. I know it is supposed to be a photo. I’ll post some of those separately!
PS Bummer. It didn’t include the music. This was videoed with Come Together by The Beatles playing loud in the background. Ths bug is climbing in time with the music!!
ok I am so NOT a bug person but was fascinated. What is it????
She is a Giant Spiny Australian Leaf (or stick) bug
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratum
They are GREAT for the classroom! Want me to send you some??
I wrote their story…how I became a Bug Mother, despite my absolute revulsion, in
https://theseekersdungeon.com/2015/11/20/walking-with-intention-day-20-by-kathie-arcide/
I read it and think you are the greatest!!! To embrace these crawly creatures that at first I thought were star fruit gone awry- I commend you. They look kind of like some sort of plant too. Amazing. Thanks for the info and I loved that blog
and why are they all over??? not cheating at all- really clever
She is a Giant Spiny Australian Leaf (or stick) bug
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratum
They are GREAT for the classroom! Want me to send you some??
I wrote their story…how I became a Bug Mother, despite my absolute revulsion, in
https://theseekersdungeon.com/2015/11/20/walking-with-intention-day-20-by-kathie-arcide/
(Something’s happening with my “reply” function. Let me try this again.)
They are all over because I am cleaning their terrarium. They really don’t go anywhere. Seem to be content just hanging on their leaves and eating!!!
Thanks for tolerating them in my post. They have inadvertently become a focal point in my life! Quite fascinating…really, and when they are smaller, they seem to enjoy being handled. Not so much at this size because they are so delicate. It’s easy to damage them.
Don’t try imagining it. You’ll just creep yourself out!
how long do they live? Did you give them names? (I hope so)
Very weird little buy…..not gruesome. Curious.
Lisa and Helen, thanks for being interested in my bug. I know to some, well MOST, they can be creepy (not like those giant spiders in your Mum’s house though). I didn’t name them Lisa, way too many. From the original two, both females, came 27 baby bugs all over my kitchen, hatched from eggs I was sure were not fertilized. I have learned so much about parthenogenesis, molting, fascinating defense mechanisms (shooting out a peanut butter smell, imitating a scorpion, and a variety of camouflage techniques, including swaying back and forth to look like a Eucalyptus leaf blowing in the wind). All in all, 5 generations later and over 100 bugs, I am still amazed and learn new stuff all the time!
By the way, the swaying we call “dancing” and even though they don’t “hear”, they dance in time to whatever music is playing on Pandora. I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to include a Beatles song coincidentally on in the background.