Mimicry

[frogmarch]

Orchid mantis:



If you have photos showing examples of animal or plant mimicry, please post them.

Isn't nature amazing?

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Wow! That's really amazing.

Thanks for sharing! And yes, nature is amazing!

[frogmarch]

2. I am flabbergasted

at the number of insect species that mimic plants.

Sometimes plants even mimic insects:



The fly orchid, also known as Ophrys insectifera, can enhance its chances of pollination by tricking male flies into mating with it. This plant, whose flowers looks like an insect, releases a scent to mimic the pheromones of female flies. When the hapless male attempts to mate with the flower, it pollinates the orchid.

http://education.ezinemark.com/plants-act-like-human-beings-7736acd99936.html

[nolabear]

3. Oh my God that's FABULOUS!

I'd definitely have sex with that and then bite its head off. :rofl: :spank:

[frogmarch]

4. :-)

Snopes says female mantises sometimes devour their mates, but not always. They most often do it when they’re imprisoned in jars and/or are not given enough to eat.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/mantis1.asp

[nolabear]

6. Yes, we have infiltrated many of your so-called "web sites".

:evilgrin:

[frogmarch]

8. heh

Oh, we have, have we? *snrk*

[MerryBlooms]

5. Spectacular!

I don't have a photo to contribute, but my son's cat once had a go-in with a Mantis on our patio. I had no idea those bugs hissed like snakes when in battle. That trait was eventually the Mantis' undoing - for the more she hissed and lunged, the more excited the cat became and the cat ended up shaking the Mantis off his lip (the Mantis was relentless in going for the cat's face) and then biting her in half, ending what must have been at least a half hour battle. Amazing creatures those Mantis.

[frogmarch]

7. Wow! That must have been

something to see!

I didn't know mantises hissed, or that they made any sounds at all. Thanks for the info!

[MerryBlooms]

9. I had no idea either.

I learned a whole new respect for those bugs that summer - that was the same summer I went out to water and then entire yard started moving - it was baby Mantis. There were some strange egg sacks on our fence and I'd told the kids, 'Let's keep an eye on them and see what they are.'. We had the same one year with Ladybugs. The whole west side of the house was covered in little rainbow Ladybug eggs.

[frogmarch]

10. How cool!

I wish I could see something like that. I saw newly hatched mantises in a jar once years ago (they started eating each other, so we quickly released them), but I never got to see the eggs. I've never seen ladybug eggs or ladybug hatchlings. I really like mantids, even ordinary-looking ones, and ladybugs.

[MerryBlooms]

12. Both events were

fascinating, but a little creepy at the same time - know what I mean?. We also had a huge problem with Black Widows - which scare the hell outta me. lol There was one in my Petunias right outside the front door - saw it and tried to take a baseball bat to it - Widow 1 / Me 0. She got away and I was left with mangled Petunias and one eye open at night. =P

[frogmarch]

14. Yes, I think I know what you mean.

As for your black widow encounter...eek. I was bitten by one once and nearly died - but at least I didn't give myself a black eye on top of it. ;-)

[MerryBlooms]

15. Oh gosh, how awful! :( I'd take a black eye - which I gave myself

twice - once in tennis and one on a beer can. lol, don't ask.

[frogmarch]

16. haha...oops, I mean I'm sorry!

I encountered black widows all the time at the fossil dig site where I once worked. They were everywhere - in the dig holes, in the bones, you name it. I used to squash them with my thumbnail when they got too close, but some were bigger than my thumbnails. I didn't spray them, but sometimes I zapped them with preservatives to make them woozy. The bite I got put me out for two days. I remember driving home and collapsing onto the couch, where I awoke about 48 hours later. My husband, a RRer, was away on a trip, and the kids were at camp. Later I did see a doctor because the bite became infected and turned into a big sebaceous cyst. It's still there on my shoulder.

[MilesColtrane]

11. A cuttlefish plays at "How Not To Be Seen".

[frogmarch]

13. I had to google

cuttlefish images so I could find him in the picture. I'm still not sure I have!