Hi Kimberly - that is an odd bug. It looks like a good one that would eat other insects. My first thought was a "walking stick" but I don't think that is what it is. Hey, on my last post I linked to you at the end. :)
A little more, FYI: Called the palmetto walkingstick because of its habitat. Called the Devil Rider because of the way the smaller male rides on the female's back. The "devil" part may be due to the irritating liquid this bug can spray when threatened.
Kimberly, I have only seen those once. It was in a park in northern Florida we saw maybe 40-50 of them crossing the road in a 2 mile stretch. Good thing for them the road was very little traveled. Shame you have not seen the mated pairs yet the male is half as big as the female. Great photos and an interesting post.
FG, thank you so much for identifying this interesting but creepy insect. I've said it once, and I'll say it again...I'm not one to be freaked out by bugs. I'm bigger than they are and I can squish them if necessary. HOWEVER, this "lady" took me by surprise, and not knowing what it was gave me the creeps! In addition, it seems that the bugs in my garden just keep getting BIGGER!! And the spraying of blinding solution does not make me happy.
RF, these would be difficult to see at night...very camouflaged! I wonder why they come out at night...they don't eat bugs, do they?
Randy, your story is horrifying! 40-50 of any bug, let alone big ones, is too much for me to handle.
Then you had better close your eyes to my post on the army of Rothschild bugs. What suprised me was that the Melianthus just shrugged them off, quite unconcerned.
Gloria, I did have to move quickly past that red spider. I don't like the size or the eight eyes, in addition to the fact that spiders jump and I'm highly allergic. At least they don't gross me out...they're pretty clean animals.
An entomologist at UF once told me his colleague, who knew better, was careless while handling one of these large walking sticks and the insect sprayed his eyes.
He said his pal went through 24 hours of excruciating pain.
That was good enough for me. I see them often, but don't mess with them.
Somehow, I doubt that you were going to pick it up anyway.
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! (THIS is why a good hard frost in fall makes me so happy -- and why I think 'warm-zoned' gardeners are so brave!)
I have to excuse myself now.... I already know I'm not brave enough to visit the 'bug' post on "Elephant's Eye" - my heart couldn't take the stress. :-p
That is one creepy bug for sure. Glad FG could ID it for us. I'll have to read up more on it in case I ever see one. Right now I would take ANY bug over the lubbers I still have invading the garden.
II was going to say it is an alien, as it looks just like one of those things in the movie Men in Black. I think I may have seen one in my garden, too!
Cool bug! I haven't seen one like that! Thanks for joining my Creature Feature meme this month! Interesting that we both had Mantis as the topic. Must be the season!
24 comments:
Hi Kimberly - that is an odd bug. It looks like a good one that would eat other insects. My first thought was a "walking stick" but I don't think that is what it is. Hey, on my last post I linked to you at the end. :)
Oooooh, fun! This is Anisomorpha buprestoides, also known as Palmetto Walkingstick or the Devil Rider. A Southern specialty.
A little more, FYI: Called the palmetto walkingstick because of its habitat. Called the Devil Rider because of the way the smaller male rides on the female's back. The "devil" part may be due to the irritating liquid this bug can spray when threatened.
Interesting bug and interesting comments by Floridagirl.
Glad Floridagirl had a clue, because I sure didn't. It looks impressive, though. Great shots!
What a scary walking stick. Ugh! Another sign that fall is looming.
I want one!
It sprays out an irritant vapour when riled? Mrs IG does that too.
They aren't usually seen because they're more active at night. Floridagirl always knows her bugs!
It is BIG!
Very handsome bug, and nice photos too! Glad FG was able to identify it. I don't think we have any walking-stick bugs around here.
Kimberly,
I have only seen those once. It was in a park in northern Florida we saw maybe 40-50 of them crossing the road in a 2 mile stretch. Good thing for them the road was very little traveled. Shame you have not seen the mated pairs yet the male is half as big as the female. Great photos and an interesting post.
FG, thank you so much for identifying this interesting but creepy insect. I've said it once, and I'll say it again...I'm not one to be freaked out by bugs. I'm bigger than they are and I can squish them if necessary. HOWEVER, this "lady" took me by surprise, and not knowing what it was gave me the creeps! In addition, it seems that the bugs in my garden just keep getting BIGGER!! And the spraying of blinding solution does not make me happy.
RF, these would be difficult to see at night...very camouflaged! I wonder why they come out at night...they don't eat bugs, do they?
Randy, your story is horrifying! 40-50 of any bug, let alone big ones, is too much for me to handle.
Then you had better close your eyes to my post on the army of Rothschild bugs. What suprised me was that the Melianthus just shrugged them off, quite unconcerned.
Diana, well noted!!!
Gloria, I did have to move quickly past that red spider. I don't like the size or the eight eyes, in addition to the fact that spiders jump and I'm highly allergic. At least they don't gross me out...they're pretty clean animals.
An entomologist at UF once told me his colleague, who knew better, was careless while handling one of these large walking sticks and the insect sprayed his eyes.
He said his pal went through 24 hours of excruciating pain.
That was good enough for me. I see them often, but don't mess with them.
Somehow, I doubt that you were going to pick it up anyway.
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! (THIS is why a good hard frost in fall makes me so happy -- and why I think 'warm-zoned' gardeners are so brave!)
I have to excuse myself now.... I already know I'm not brave enough to visit the 'bug' post on "Elephant's Eye" - my heart couldn't take the stress. :-p
That is one creepy bug for sure. Glad FG could ID it for us. I'll have to read up more on it in case I ever see one. Right now I would take ANY bug over the lubbers I still have invading the garden.
Oh that sure is creepy - sorry I can't help with the id but I can congratulate you on your cool sign in the yard. I'm so pleased for you Kimberly.
II was going to say it is an alien, as it looks just like one of those things in the movie Men in Black. I think I may have seen one in my garden, too!
How interesting! So, is it really a pest? Does it eat your plants? Or could it even be beneficial? Now we all want to know more.
Weird bug, it seems like something you could easily miss because it blends in with the plants!
That is a very peculiar insect. It is not something I would want crawling anywhere near me. :)
But cool, nonetheless.
Kimberly,
Yes, I have seen previews for the next Narnia film and I am totally excited for it. I think it is going to be in 3D!
Congrats to Floridagirl for the ID. I've never seen such a creature, but then again it does blend in pretty well. Cool!
Cool bug! I haven't seen one like that!
Thanks for joining my Creature Feature meme this month! Interesting that we both had Mantis as the topic. Must be the season!
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