A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Onchestus rentzi (female)
Brown stocky stick insect with small brown wings and a curious pair of bunny ears.
From coastal queensland, these stick insects are likely to stay near the ground, avoiding the treetops. They mimic dead sticks rather than green leaves.
When startled, they can flash their wings, even producing a rustling sound, in an attempt to ward of a hungry predator (pic # 3). In the main pic, I have grabbed her abdomen to provoke this display. This specimen is not local my location. It is bred in captivity. The link shows two females and no males - I will post one shortly. Her egg is here, top left http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/819...
Thanks for the tip argybee, I'd missed it. I've heard of a complete new ORDER of insects recently discovered http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/...
This reminds me martin - did you see the mantid mimicking a stick insect? http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/116...
Spotted on May 14, 2012
Submitted on May 14, 2012
