The post The Grasshopper That Looks Like an Alien appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Quick Take
Females must reach a staggering 7 inches to fulfill the reproductive requirements of the Amazon rainforest.
Being members of Proscopiidae prevents these insects from possessing the robust frames typical of their jumping relatives.
The stick-like appearance of these insects contradicts the standard robust physiology expected of high-impact jumping species.
Frequent scanning of the canopy was necessary to compensate for their alien-like appearance during predator encounters.
Some insects look more like aliens than they do insects. One example is a grasshopper that is able to survive by not looking like one at all. The Peruvian jumping stick has a unique appearance for a grasshopper, which makes it especially interesting to entomologists. This Instagram post by @conservation shows some up-close pictures of these grasshoppers, and they are truly alien-like. Read here to learn more!
The Peruvian jumping stick is sometimes called the horsehead grasshopper.
©Guillermo Guerao Serra/Shutterstock.com
(Guillermo Guerao Serra/Shutterstock.com)About the Peruvian Jumping Stick
The Peruvian jumping stick, scientifically known as Pseudoproscopia latirostris, is a member of the Proscopiidae family, commonly called stick grasshoppers, and is famous for its unique appearance. Unlike most grasshoppers, which are generally more robust than stick bugs, the Peruvian jumping stick is often referred to as a stick grasshopper. It shares many traits with stick bugs, which is why it is known by several different names. As the name suggests, the Peruvian jumping stick is native to South America, inhabiting rainforests in Peru and other nearby regions such as the Amazon rainforest.
There is some sexual dimorphism in this species, with females generally being larger than males. Both sexes are typically brownish in color, which aids in their camouflage. Females can grow to around six to seven inches long. Like other grasshoppers, they can jump using their hind legs, a trait most stick insects don’t have. They use their strong jumps to escape predators and travel between plants. Peruvian jumping sticks are herbivores that feed on the leaves of various native rainforest plants, often eating the leaves of the plants they inhabit.
These grasshoppers have strange heads and eyes that make them look like aliens.
©Colombe Photographie/Shutterstock.com
(Colombe Photographie/Shutterstock.com)Strange Appearances
The most distinctive feature of these grasshoppers is their elongated heads, which have a set of large eyes on top. Their alien-like appearance is very practical for their environments. The long head and eyes on top function like a tower, giving them a better vantage point. This gives them excellent visual awareness, allowing them to scan for food or predators.
Their long, slender bodies help with camouflage as well. The stick-like body helps them blend into the branches or twigs in the rainforest. So rather than the typical grasshopper, they are more like traditional stick bugs in terms of camouflage. Their mimicry of the natural environment shows that their alien-like appearance serves a practical purpose beyond aesthetics.
The post The Grasshopper That Looks Like an Alien appeared first on A-Z Animals.