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How does a walking stick protect itself from predators?
Stick insects protect themselves by remaining motionless for hours. Sometimes, they gently sway back and forth like a small branch being blown by the wind. They hold their legs tightly along the body so they look like a stick or twig. The surrounding vegetation makes them almost invisible to predators.
What do Stickbugs do?
Stick bugs have interesting defenses including fighting back and swiping at predators with their long legs. Some may pretend to be dead, while others will drop or release an entire limb in order to escape from a predator. Still another type of stick bug will release a foul odor in order to scare off predators.
What are the walking sticks predators?
Predators include: birds, reptiles, spiders, bats and primates. Since bats hunt at night by using echolacation, they can easily prey on the stick insects by tracking the noise they make. The stick insect’s camouflage does not help defend them against bats.
How do stick insects defend themselves?
For example, Eurycantha calcarata can release an awful-smelling substance as a deterrent. Others have brightly colored wings that are invisible when folded against their body; when they feel threatened, they flash open their wings, then immediately drop to the ground and again hide their wings.
How did stick bugs evolve?
Stick insects had already evolved a striking resemblance to twigs by 99 million years ago. The new specimen is the oldest known stick insect to boast such features. The find shows that stick and leaf insects evolved the trick of imitating vegetation earlier than previously thought.
How do walking sticks have babies?
Walking sticks reproduce both sexually and asexually (meaning that they do not need a mate to reproduce). Females drop eggs on the forest floor and leave them to hatch, which takes 2-6 months from the time the eggs are laid. Young walking sticks reach adult size and are able to reproduce 3-4 months after hatching.
Why do walking stick bugs look like twigs?
Walking stick bug body structure and coloration resemble real twigs or branches so strongly that often birds or other predators do not notice them at all. If this camouflage fails for whatever reason, some species of walking sticks have other means to protect themselves.
What kind of behavior does a walking stick have?
Some exhibit enigmatic behavior such as swaying side to side, as if imitating the breeze such as would be seen on actual twigs on a windy day. If startled, most walking sticks will freeze or go lifeless, dropping and blending in with the forest floor.
Can a lightning bug change into a walking stick?
If the insect changed from one form, say from a larva or egg into another shape like a lightning bug, they would go through complete metamorphosis. A great disguise and a unique metamorphosis are found in the walking stick ( Bacteria virgea ).
Where can I find a walking stick insect?
Range: Walking Sticks insect are usually found in North America, Australia, and around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. They are plentiful in the rain forests of South America including Costa Rica, Asia, and Africa.