#Genus: Extatosoma

[professionalunprofessional]

We’re on an Insect roll at the moment, and here is probably one of the coolest bugs I’ve ever seen: The Spiny Leaf Insect! They are also known as Australian Walking Sticks and are a species of Phasmatids.

Honestly, Spiny Leaf Insect sounds more like a general description than an actual name-

#Phylum: Arthropoda #Class: Insecta #Order: Phasmatodea #Family: Phasmatidae #Subfamily: Extatosomatinae #Genus: Extatosoma #Extatosoma tiaratum #Australian walking sticks #Spiny leaf insects #Walking sticks #leaf insects #Phasmatids #insects

[windienine]

Mimic! (for the Chuubo's ask meme)

mimic: tell me a weird fact about something?

alright, try this one on for size: some facts about actual real-world mimics.

myrmecomorphy is the term for ant mimicry in other species. it’s often a form of batesian mimicry, as most of these animals have poor defenses and want to blend in with an ant colony because, well-- few self-respecting bugs want to fuck with an entire ant colony. they’re also hoping this stops the ant colony itself from attacking them, too. ants are one of the most widely-mimicked creatures the world over thanks to their wide range and apparent ease to dupe. here’s a short list of some organisms with species that have evolved to fool as many ants as possible:

Mymarachne is an entire genus of ant-mimicking spiders. while most of them are typical batesian mimics, a few of them specifically mimic ants in order to hunt ants undetected. 

several cricket nymphs (Orthoptera) mimic ants before molting into normal-looking adults.

there’s a stick insect species (Extatosoma tiaratum) that not only hatches out as an ant mimic, but its eggs look similar to plant seeds-- leading real ants to take the eggs back to their nests and unknowingly raise their young.

ant-mimicking plants. a few species of passionflower have evolved dark spots on their leaves that vaguely resemble ants-- which is currently thought to be an anti-herbivory strategy that keeps away animals that wouldn’t want a mouthful of ants along with it.

some other types of animals who do this include praying mantises, true bugs, beetles, thrips, parasitoid wasps, mites, and grasshoppers.

#bugs #ask meme