Many critters have the ability to mimic their surroundings. They normally camouflage themselves among leaves and branches. One morning I was fascinated looking for these little creatures, and I am surprised that there are also those which are taking big risks in alighting the colored flowers. The bright colors give them the big color contrast, and for me a very nice background for my photos.
A common juvenile praying mantis on a petunia flower is attractive. It is fortunate I am not a predator. The lavender flower makes the green very prominently displayed. Many of us gardeners know that the female praying mantis eats the male's head during mating, however i haven't observed that in nature yet. I was just able to see it now for curiosity in you tube. If you are as curious as I, there are many pieces posted there! But i warn you, it is not for the weak hearted among us!
This cotton bug, Dysdercus cingulatus near a green hoya leaf is also very vulnerable. I just don't know what it is eating there, as we don't have cotton nor okra in our area.
the cotton bug at the bark of Lansium domesticum or lanzones
This is a katydid, but i don't know if it is already mature or still a juvenile, nor its gender. It is reported that katydid's difference from grasshoppers is their very long antenna normally exceeding the length of its body. Another fascination is this fact. The male katydid has a
spermatophylax on its spermatophore. This is being consumed by the female katydid during mating. Its function is to prolong the attachment time of the male's spermatophore to increase his paternity. It is interesting.
I have never seen a cotton bug...I love the patterns and colors...almost as if it was painted on.
ReplyDeleteDonna, we have lots of this, it is a cotton bug because it is more common in countries growing cotton, but we don't have much cotton plants. It is one of the few bugs here with red color.
DeleteNice photos!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that cotton is in the mallow family, so my guess is that the cotton bugs you're seeing (and, wow, they sure are gorgeous!) are eating other mallows.
Oh, and I think that the katydid is an adult, based on the full wings. The only insects I know that are winged in an immature stage are mayflies, which have wings in their last nymphal stage, as well as in their adult form.
Thanks Gaia, as i told Donna above, we don't have lots of cotton plants and it is only in a very far area from us. But we have lots of plants in the Malvaceae family as in okra and hibiscus. I haven't seen this actually in these plants but in some grasses which are not in the family. I wonder if they it them too, maybe as alternative food. We have a nice local term for them because they are always seen mating!
DeleteAnd thanks for telling me the katydid is already an adult. I am familiar with our big katydids, so i thought this is a young of that one. As for mayflies, i don't know that one!
I agree that the cotton bug has cool patterns and vibrant colors. Fantastic captures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shey for the visit and appreciation.
DeleteCool bugs! Love the beautiful contrast with the leaves .. but yes, that is odd that they pick places where they show so well. (I think I'm happy just knowing about the praying mantis' mating habits...don't think I need to go see it.. some things are better left to the imagination. ;>)
ReplyDeleteWonderful photography, thanks for sharing.
Haha, yes Sallie, I also don't want to see the actual praying mantis ritual especially after seeing it in youtube! I thank my new macro lens for letting me see things for the first time! thanks for the visit.
DeleteThank you Jenn Jilks!
ReplyDeleteThese bugs are so pretty and I had heard about the ritual of the praying mantis. It makes me grateful that I am not one. :-)
ReplyDelete