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Project Noah Nature School
Pseudophasma bispinosum
This is a medium sized stick insect (10 cm/4 in) that is infested with 3 Forcipomyia sp midges. See the midges here: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/19... It is dark brown to black under the light brown wings. The back of the head and top of the thorax appear to have a light brown plate with a sharp projection on each side behind the 2nd set of legs. The legs are black with light brown extremeties Another link from PN: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/16...
This particular flying stick was found on an outside wall of a new clinic building in a remote jungle village (365 masl).
Looking up the identification of this insect, I was surprised to see how many of the fotos showed this species with the same parasite this one shows. The bottom link on the right is from PN's own late Andreas Kay. I thought this was endemic to Ecuador, but according to the map, evidently a strong westerly wind blew one individual over into Brazil spoiling it's endemic status 😊
Spotted on Feb 19, 2007
Submitted on Feb 2, 2020
4 Comments
Finding parasites reminds me when I first joined PN and found out "Toadstools" were more than just a inconsequential nuisance. Fungi are fascinating, as are parasites. Thanks Brian.
Same here Tukup!
Thanks Maria. I find myself checking all insects for parasites now 😊
Interesting spotting! Thanks for sharing this.