Achrioptera Fallax (Stick Insect)

[GODREKR]

Achrioptera fallax is a stick insect species found in Madagascar.

Females

•very big and robust phasmids
•body lenght about 20 – 23 cm
•many spines on the thorax and legs
•a variable number of spines on the head (1 – 4), but these can also be absent in some females
•small red wings
•light or dark brown – with blue, red and pink areas
•red spines on the thorax
•short, wine-red antennae

Males

•slim phasmids, compared to the females
•body length about13 – 14.5 cm
•no or just a few spines on the head or thorax
•bright, glossy blue dorsally
•turquoise blue ventrally
•wine red antennae, shorter than forelegs
•outer costal region of hind wings yellow-brown
•anal region of the hindwings (the membranous part) is bright red
•legs with many spines
•femur of mid- and hindlegs with bright yellow and orange-red areas
•distinct ocelli (simple eyes) on the head

Behaviour

•nymphs hatch during daytime (usually early morning or around noon) - therefore eggs should not be incubated in complete darkness, rather to a dimmed day-night rhythm
•nymphs are great in escaping from their cage – thus make sure that their cage is escape-proof
•the first days after hatching, nymphs are running around the cage a lot
•once they have started to feed – they calm down, rest in one place and their color gets lighter
•nymphs and adults can behave frantically if they feel threatened, then they drop down, wriggle about and freeze again after a few steps
•especially adult male, but also nymphs and adult females, are active during the day
•a light breeze animates them to walk about and feed
•if adult males or females feel threatened, then the open up their small wings with a loud rustling noise and they try to pinch the (potential) predator between their spiny hindlegs
•males and females can not use their wings for flight
•matings are frequent, and males can stay with the same female for some days
•when a male while mating senses another male apporaching, then he makes some jerky movements – most probably an attempt to fight of a rival
•females fling the eggs away with a sway of their abdomen

More info here. And here.

[jesse]

How wickedly gorgeous!

[corpsehands]

Evolution is cool

[knuggy]

amazing

[kellyhound]

haha such cool species

[BLACKOUTx4500x]

It looks like a little dragon:)

[choochie]

Oh my, that is the most interesting critter. Kind of reminded me of a preying mantis. I THOUGHT THEY WERE STRANGE! The female is like a large lizard. Freaks me out with those waxy looking wings. They sound like they're pretty animated, the way they move around.

[neilwatt]

There are many shapes and sizes but all harmlessly going about their business

[miky4rmdabigstate]

amazing insects, hope theres more later

[Desensitisation]

With a better set of wings, that would be an awesome flying critter.