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Praying mantis tribute ![]() CLICK FOR DOWNLOAD --------------------------------- Classification Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Phasmatodea Suborder Verophasmatodea Infraorder Anareolatae Family Phasmatidae Subfamily Phasmatinae Tribe Phasmatini Genus Parachypocraina Species P. Major
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PARACHYPOCRAINA MAJOR
Like many of their relatives, the Phasmatidae are capable of regenerating limbs and commonly reproduce by parthenogenesis. Despite their bizarre, even threatening appearance, they are harmless to humans.
The Phasmatidae contain some of the largest insects in existence.
The bizarre-looking, slow-moving, plant-eating walking stick among the most intriguing of the insects has raised camouflage, mimicry and defense to a veritable art form. Through an adaptation called crypsis, it blends in so perfectly with its natural habitat that it often goes completely undetected by would-be predators. Its taxonomic family name, Phasmatidae, derived from the Greek word Phasma, means, appropriately, phantom or apparition. Its other common names - for instance, specter, devil's horse, devil's darning needle and witch's horse - reflect its hold on the human imagination.
Stick insects are very rich in nutrition and make excellent meals for various predators. Predators include: birds, reptiles, spiders, bats and primates. Since bats hunt at night by using echolacation, they can easily prey on the stick insects by tracking the noise they make. The stick insect's camouflage does not help defend them against bats.
The walking stick employs an array of strategies to disguise and defend itself from predators. Some species can bite or pinch with their thorny legs.
In addition to camouflage, the insect employs an array of other defensive tactics. It may, for a few examples:
Remain perfectly motionless, especially during the day, with its forward and back legs outstretched, as if it were a twig of its host plant.
Flex its legs, swaying its body randomly from side to side, mimicking a lightly blowing twig
Suddenly flip open its wings (if it has wings) to startle a threatening predator
Play dead, stiffening its body, and fall to the ground
Sacrifice a leg grabbed by a predator (it can regenerate the leg within a few weeks)
Feed nocturnally, when the risk of detection by a predator is lower
Discharge a foul-tasting blood from its leg joints
Regurgitate an evil-tasting liquid through its mouths
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