The insect kingdom is filled with so many exotic little creatures. We have selected only a few of the vast selection of unusual ones from around the world.
Scorpion Fly
The Scorpion Fly (mecoptera) looks like somebody has cut+pasted body parts together from a wasp, fly and scorpion. While named a fly, they actually form part of the Lepidoptera order, which includes moths and butterflies. The Scorpion Fly is commonly found in gardens, woodlands, and in nettles and Bramble. It has a long beak-like projection from its head that is used for feeding, scavenging on dead insects and to funnel into spider’s webs to steal trapped insects. The scorpion-like tail is not used for stinging as is the case with scorpions; it is actually the fly’s genitals.
Brazilian Treehopper
The Treehopper family are similar to cicadas in form and structure, but they exhibit unusual protrusions on their heads. In the case of the Brazilian Treehopper, the ball-like appendages are hollow chitin, and may be for the sole purpose of protection against predators. Entomologists are still baffled by the exact purpose of these protrusions and continue to study the Treehopper family in the hopes of gaining more understanding of their anatomy.
Devil’s Flower Mantis
The Devil’s Flower Mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) is one of the largest species of praying mantis, and also one of the strangest. They can measure up to 13cm in length, and have developed a range of natural camouflage that allows them to mimic the Devil’s Flower, a type of orchid. All mantids are predators. Their hunting style involves remaining motionless against a similar background until their prey is close enough to catch. The Devil’s Flower Mantis mimics the colour and texture of the Devil’s flower to actually lure its prey within reach.
Hickory Horned Devil
The Hickory Horned Devil is a caterpillar that later transforms into the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), also called the Royal Walnut Moth. These solitary nocturnal caterpillars curl up into a letter ‘J’ during the day to disguise themselves as bird droppings. They are one of the largest caterpillars. Although they have an aggressive appearance, the Hickory Horned Devil is harmless. The horns do not sting or pierce; they are simply a deterrent against predators.
Elephant Weevil
The Elephant Weevil (Orthorhinus cylindrirostris), forms part of the Curculionidae family. The colour and size of adults can vary dramatically. It is usually brown-grey in colour with a long slender snout and long forelegs. The body has thick black or brown scales. The antennae are clubbed and form an L shape with a distinct elbow. Male antennae are located much closer to the point of the snout than females. Males also have longer forelegs than females. Females are less cylindrical, more coarse and shorter than the males. These unusual creatures are native to Australia and are considered a major pest in vineyards.
Parktown Prawn
The Parktown Prawn (Libanasidus vittatus) is not a prawn at all, but actually a six-legged insect belonging to the King Cricket family, Anastostomatidae. Their name originates from the suburb in which they were first discovered: Parktown , South Africa. They are orange to brown in colour, with darker brown to black stripes across their abdomen and can reach up to 10cm in length. Male Parktown Prawns have large tusk-like mouthpieces which they use to grip and throw their prey over their shoulders. These insects are vicious and will attack humans and animals if they feel threatened. They can jump as high as 1m and excrete a black ink-like faecal liquid as a defence mechanism. Their hind legs have multiple sharp spikes and they rub their hind legs together, making a high-pitched sound as a warning.
Lantern Fly
Lantern Flies form part of the Fulgoridae family and are a kind of leafhopper. These large, brightly coloured South American plant hoppers live on trees and are relatively uncommon. They have a large protrusion from the head resembling a snout, and large bulbous eyes. The protrusion or ‘snout’ contains a pouch-like extension from the digestive tract. This structure appears to be luminous at times (hence the name) and is believed to be related to mating behaviour. Some Lantern Flies secrete a white wax in the form of long filaments or a powder that is thought to be used as protection. They also protect themselves by opening their wings, which reveal bright yellow spots, resembling fake eyes.
Puss Moth Caterpillar
The Puss Moth Caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis) is bright green and will often have a row of white spots on either side of its body. On the head is a pair of black spots that could be mistaken for eyes. But the caterpillar’s head actually protrudes from within its gaping mouth. This protrusion scares off any potential predators. It also sprays out a mist of formic acid from the two horns on its back. They are one of the most toxic caterpillars in North America. When a Puss Moth Caterpillar rubs or is pressed against skin, venomous hairs become embedded.
It is almost difficult to comprehend how such tiny creatures can be such intricate works of art. They look like they have each been individually hand painted with meticulous attention to detail. The insect kingdom is truly a magical place, filled with a spectacular array of little species that all work together harmoniously – each fulfilling a unique role that impacts our ecosystem.