The Slender Man of the insect world seems much more monstrous to us than it does to anything else. These insects are exclusively vegetarians and are quite harmless.
Exquisitely camouflaged, I've never spotted one in its prefered environment of the branches of trees.
It's little spherical eyes are particularly endearing. However, the maxillary palps (mouth parts) being kept close to the head so as to not break the outline and ruin the effect of the camouflage do give it an appearance reminicent of Batman's foe Bane.
While rather big for an insect; they are easy to handle, being incapable of biting or stinging whatsoever. Be very gentle when handling them, the hooks on the feet are quite strong, stronger in fact than the leg's attachment to the body, it's tragically easy to accidentally tear off a leg! I haven't, though I did see one after a child had picked one up, carefully I might add, but the leg got hooked on a tree branch and popped off. :( While it was left with only 5 legs, it seemed to be getting by without trouble.
They have a particular walking style, to mimic the swaying of a branch in the wind, the phasmid bobs back and forth slowly advancing one step at a time.
I actually kept this shorter and stockier phasmid as a pet for a few weeks. It was quite friendly, though I kept handling it to a minimum.
I've only ever spotted them 5 times in total, they are really good at hiding, after storms when they had been blown out of the trees and are on the sidewalk or the wall of a house where their camouflage is completely useless.
Whatever preys upon these insects must have incredible eye sight, as this selective pressure has produced a body shape, colour and texture that is indistinguishable from an ordinary twig or branch.
The forelegs are often held stretched out to further enhance the illusion of being nothing more than a twig.
Even the joints between body segments and the edges of the legs look just like plant matter!
The fibrous pattern of the exoskeletons colouration and the texture of even the smallest spines. The only giveaways are the symetrical structure and the roundness of the eyes. Even their eggs look like plant seeds!
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Also, if you like macro photography, check out some of the earlier posts in this series.
Little Monsters - Part I: Wolf Spiders
Little Monsters - Part II: Golden Orb Weaver
Little Monsters - Part III: Lynx Spiders!
Little Monsters - Part IV: Decorator Orb Weaver
Little Monsters - Part V: Black Back Paper Wasp
Little Monsters - Part VI: Dragonfly
Little Monsters - Part VII: Indian Fritallary
Little Monsters - Part VIII: Giant Japanese Hornet
Little Monsters - Part IX: Praying Mantis!
Little Monsters - Part X: Harlequin Ladybird!
Little Monsters - Part XI: Dragons!
Little Monsters - Part XII: Snails!
Little Monsters - Part XIII: Evil Weevils!
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