Dancing Bugs for WPC

Dance

Not sure if this will work but it’s the first thing I thought of when the theme of “dance” for the Weekly Photo Challenge was announced. Maybe it’s cheating to try to post a video? But no still shot could capture this dance. I discovered it while cleaning out their terrarium a few weeks ago. I always play music while cleaning their home but apparently these guys don’t really like the Eagles or Bonnie Raitt.

Oh, and Badfish? They ARE real!

Met a young cousin of yours recently and decided to do one of those “proof of life” photo shoots with him.

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teenage bug (Extatosoma Tiaratum)

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Adult female Giant Spiny Australian Leaf Bug

Then Baby Badfish asked if his girlfriend could join us. I of course, said YES, curious and all. Who do these Badfish boys date anyway??

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I think she’s pretty cute, if a bit tipsy.

And a funny thing happened during our photo session. I turned my back…for just a second and look what happened!

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From out of nowhere! This one just showed up! Can’t tell if she is a bug girlfriend herself or if she is lunch for my hungry bug. (Just kidding. They are definitely herbivores!)

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Anyway, for real, they are REAL!

Like holding air in your hand….

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This is one of my bugs, (Extatosoma tiaratum). She is about 1/3 of the way through her life. She will more than double in size, and then I will be able to feel her weight, barely. In this photo, but for the faint tickle of her claws on my skin, she is completely weightless. I can’t feel her.

 

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I watched this little one for a hours one day and couldn’t tell if she was scruffy old and ready to go, or young and still shedding baby fluff.

The next day, I found her dead on the ground under the feeder. When I picked her up, she seemed to weigh even less than my full grown Bugs. I still could not guess her age.