Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Art of disguise - Part 9

Another master of disguise.....
The True Leaf Katydid (Tettigoniidae zabalius aridus) is so well hidden I almost walked past him.
They are very large, this specimen being about 4 inches (60mm) in body length.
They feed on leaves of trees and shrubs.
In defense, they kick with their spined hind legs.

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42 comments:

  1. sachinJune 2, 2010 at 12:51 AM

    awesome pics. thnx for info. (:

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  2. PhilipJune 2, 2010 at 2:37 AM

    WOW! it took me a bit of time to see it very clever Joan maybe it was hiding from you :)

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  3. AndreaJune 2, 2010 at 4:24 AM

    At a first look I wasn't able to see it:great disguise for him and maybe too much beer yesterday for me :)
    (Today in Italy is Holiday)

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  4. WendyJune 2, 2010 at 4:50 AM

    So cool!! Believe it or not I actually spotted it right away for once, heehee! I remember seeing pictures of this bug in books when I was little, how neat :)

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  5. UnknownJune 2, 2010 at 5:23 AM

    How fascinating! I think your 'Art of Disguise' series is my favourite part of your blog. I am always excited to see a new one posted! :o)

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  6. Firefly the Travel GuyJune 2, 2010 at 5:51 AM

    I have never seen one of those. I'm wondering if it is cause I have just never spotted them or if they don't occur down here. Amazing

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  7. DianeJune 2, 2010 at 6:04 AM

    Wonderful pictures, I did see this one in the first photo, but only because we used to have quite a few around when I was in Zim. Diane

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  8. Craver ViiJune 2, 2010 at 7:09 AM

    I like that you took multiple angles of this one. I've never seen them, so it was helpful for me. You didn't get poked by those spiny kicks, did you?

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  9. GaelynJune 2, 2010 at 9:00 AM

    I remember how that Katydid hid from me. You sure got better shots than I did.

    I like Natures WOW but would also include ZA and identification somehow. Good luck.

    Sorry I haven't written in a while. Way too busy! And working OT today.

    Hugs!

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  10. AnonymousJune 2, 2010 at 9:21 AM

    I love the "stem" it uses for an arm. It just needs to work on its belly. (So don't we all!)

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  11. myonlyphotoJune 2, 2010 at 12:40 PM

    Oh Joan you got me on this one, I actually had a hard time find it. Excellent images, and good eye on your part. Anna :)

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  12. This Is My Blog - fishing guyJune 2, 2010 at 1:07 PM

    Joan: Your leaf critter is really wonderful, it looks like a big Katydid.

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  13. ZaneJune 2, 2010 at 9:51 PM

    Well done Joan - the crafty insect does not escape your lens.

    I had a quick look at your bug identification site - it is progressing nicely.

    Just shout if you want to borrow an image for your identification site.

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  14. SciaradaJune 2, 2010 at 10:24 PM

    Hi Joan, for me is the first time I see a simil bug, it has impressed me wow...

    P.S. Sono felicissima che tu abbia visitato il mio blog, grazie per la visita, a presto

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  15. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:41 PM

    Thanks for visiting and commenting RAM.

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  16. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:41 PM

    I think it did Philip but I am not called Bug Lady for nothing. :) I do love that name. :)

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  17. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    LOL!! Too much beer? Shame on you Andrea. :) Just teasing!!

    It is not and easy one to find and it is my first so I was very pleased about it.

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  18. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    Good for you Leeloo!! If you know what to look for it is easy to spot. :)

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  19. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:44 PM

    Thanks Krista. I do love doing this series and am always happy when I can find something new to add. :)

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  20. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:46 PM

    Thanks Jonker. The book does show them as being found in your area but they are not easy to see.

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  21. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:46 PM

    Thanks Diane. Oh you are SO good!! :)

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  22. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:47 PM

    Thanks Craver but I tend to keep my fingers well hidden from those spines. :)

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  23. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:50 PM

    I was pleased with the pics Gaelyn.

    Thanks on the suggestion for the name. I am curious to see which one will come out tops.

    Dont worry about writing, I am up to my eyeballs in work too so I understand. Hopefully soon I will be back to normal. At the moment I am also trying to fit in helping somebody do websites so it is hectic here. :)

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  24. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:51 PM

    LOL!! I sure do too Steve. :) I wonder at the reason for the color in the legs though?

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  25. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:51 PM

    Thanks Anna. They are crafty fellows. :)

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  26. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:52 PM

    Thanks Tom. It is a Katydid.

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  27. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:55 PM

    Thanks Zane. I am always pleased to find something like this.

    I am waiting for the CD's to get back from the people who are putting the names on the insects I do not know so that I can finish the site and start advertising it.

    Please send me any pictures you think I could use to wubadmin at tiscali dot co dot za.

    Also please tell me what your surname is so I can put it on the photographs.

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  28. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 2, 2010 at 10:58 PM

    Grazie Sciarada. Abbiamo così tanti insetti interessante qui e mi piace il modo in cui cercano di camuffarsi.

    Mi dispiace non ho più tempo per visitare i blog in questo momento, ma spero di avere più tempo in circa due settimane. :)

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  29. ZaneJune 3, 2010 at 12:31 AM

    Hi Joan
    I have so many photographs but will look at what bug photographs I have.

    Is there any specific size and format for a picture file - something standard 640x480 jpeg?

    I might have to send you a dvd.

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  30. UnknownJune 3, 2010 at 12:50 AM

    Beautiful images of this well camouflaged fella. It is very difficult to spot in in certain angles or unless you look for him...Thomas

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  31. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 3, 2010 at 1:12 AM

    Zane: If the picture is cropped to where you can easily see the bug, you can send it to me in about that 600x400 pixel size, it will not matter is it is slightly smaller, just not larger.

    You dont have to send them all at once. Take you time to go through them and then send them to me a few at a time. You might want to creat a seperate folder called "Joan" or something and put copies of all the pictures in there and then crop them for sending.

    If yu have more questions you can always contact me during works hours on that e-mail address I gave you.

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  32. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 3, 2010 at 1:16 AM

    Thanks Thomas. A master of disguse as those veins in his wings look just like the leaves. It is lovely yo hear from you again. I am sorry I have been so scarce on your blog this year, but with all these projects I have right now, I just dont find the time so I appreciate your visits. Thanks.

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  33. BeckyJune 3, 2010 at 2:24 AM

    OK, I did see this one right away! Yeah for me. Great camoflauge..
    I made the change. Take a look, and let me know if it's OK. I didn't realize there was no way to get back to the pictures.
    Thanks Joan.
    B.

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  34. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 3, 2010 at 3:26 AM

    Congrats Becky, you did well!! :)

    Okay, I will check it out and let you know. Thanks. :)

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  35. young-eclectic-encountersJune 3, 2010 at 12:17 PM

    Your posts are always so wonderful. Good luck with your new blog. I look forward to viewing it also.
    Thanks for following my blogs and taking the time to express your delightful comments.
    Johnina :^A

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  36. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 3, 2010 at 7:37 PM

    Thanks Johnina, you are welcome.

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  37. Rambling WoodsJune 6, 2010 at 10:39 AM

    Love the eyes most of all....

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  38. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 6, 2010 at 11:00 PM

    Thanks Michelle. :)

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  39. UnknownJune 7, 2010 at 9:56 AM

    Fantastic!| I would never notice this guy.

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  40. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 7, 2010 at 6:21 PM

    It is the first time I have found one Jose. This was in Kruger.

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  41. MaryJune 9, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    It looks like it took a leaf right off the tree and wrapped itself up in its "cloak" for the day. Amazing.

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  42. SAPhotographs (Joan)June 9, 2010 at 7:26 AM

    These are amazing I must agree and so hard to spot. I am sure I must have passed many of them in my days but not seen them.

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