After all, with compound eyes which allowed him to see well
during his largely nocturnal activities, he couldn’t use the excuse that he had
mistaken the car for a tree... or could he?
Because, while out foraging, this dedicated herbivore had
indeed climbed up a car and was now perched somewhat precariously on the wing
mirror. Only he knew why he came to be there, a stick insect enigma, surveying
his world from his unusual vantage point.
Aware of his vulnerability, he rocked gently, mimicking a
twig moving in the breeze.
In the normal course of events this behaviour might
fool predators, but stuck out on the wing mirror in broad daylight meant he was
stretching his luck.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t the sort of stick insect who
could, chameleon-like, change colour to blend in with his surroundings.
If a predator did approach, he could drop to the ground and
play dead, thus fooling the enemy into thinking he was nothing more than an
indigestible twig. And if that didn’t work, he could unleash his pièce de
résistance and vomit up the contents of his stomach. That should do the trick.
Do let me know if you're enjoying this insect mini-series.
See you next week.
Great stuff! He sounds an intrepid chap.
ReplyDeleteFoolish creature more like, climbing up on my car like that! :)
ReplyDeleteThe trick of the stick. :-) Hopefully, if he decides to jump off, he won't get run over. Funny animal and funny territory!
ReplyDeleteLiesbet @ Roaming About
Hi Liesbet, thanks for visiting. I removed him from the car soon after I took the photo and put him safely away in the undergrowth. :)
ReplyDelete:-) I'm glad to read that you love animals as much as I do!
ReplyDeleteI certainly do, Liesbet - my theme for the April A-Z Challenge was animals I've encountered in the wild. :)
ReplyDeleteInformational and fun:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandra.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge insect fan, Susan, but this guy is very cute. Reminds me a little of myself. :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha! So is that because you like to hang around on cars, Jo?
ReplyDeleteOh My - I love the little face that you can see on him in the first picture :D I wonder what he thought that he had gotten himself into on your car!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought too, Tracy! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the morning chuckle Susan. It seems this fellow took a wrong turn or perhaps a true adventurous spirit. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad it made you smile, Sue. This was the second time I found a stick insect on my car in Fiji, so clearly there was something going on to attract them. :)
DeleteYep, in terms of camouflage, he's definitely out of his element!
ReplyDeleteIsn't he just?!
ReplyDeleteMaybe (s)he wanted to get a selfie and needed to groom in the mirror! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI never thought of that possibility, AJ! :)
DeleteThis insect is actually pretty cool even if he's gross.
ReplyDeleteOh Birgit, do you really think he's gross? I think he's rather gorgeous. :)
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