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Mimicry &
Camouflage
Phasmids
have evolved many different ways of blending in with their surroundings.
The pictures below illustrate why this Order of insects in called Phasmida;
phasma being Latin for "phantom"! It is easy to imagine how
difficult they would be too see on the native plants etc., that they have
evolved to mimic.
The top
picture shows a male Haaniella dehaanii, amidst lichen-covered branches.
The picture of
Phyllium bioculatum (3rd down) shows the bite marks on
the abdomen which resulted from the nibbling of other leaf-insects.
Imagine what other leaf-eating insects, etc. could be confused!
The picture
of an insect on a ruler- correction, "yardstick" is of an adult female
Phobaeticus serratipes. This monster
is the longest extant insect in the world, one specimen reaching an incredible
555 millimeters (21.85 inches)! The one pictured was captive-bred, and
topped out at a much smaller, but still impressive 432+ millimeters (17+
inches). This is obviously a tremendous example of a stick mimic!
The
bottom pictures are of Aretaon asperrimus. This appears to be a moss and
lichen mimic, and blends in well, if you don't already know something is there.
  <Leg-tuck
  
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