desert bugs - Top That! Publishing

NOW YOU SEE ME
Many insects are masters of the art of camouflage. Their colouration may help
them to blend in to their surroundings in order to pass unnoticed by predators,
or they may use their camouflage to help them catch prey for themselves.
Which insect takes on the appearance of a Malaysian flower
The beautiful Malaysian orchid mantis lives in the
rain forests of southern Asia. It has pointed eyes,
petal-like shapes on its legs and is coloured a pretty
pale pink – just like the flowers of the plant on
which it lives. Not only is this a clever
camouflage (and so protection against
predators), but it also leads insects to
take a closer look, believing they’re
going to take a drink of nectar
from a flower. The mantis grabs
these unsuspecting insects –
which include butterflies, moths
and flies – and gobbles them up.
What is a katydid
Katydids, with their long antennae and shiny bodies,
are strange-looking insects that get their name from the
sound they produce, ‘ka-ty-did, ka-ty-did-n’t’. They have
existed for over 300 million years, and their truly
amazing capacity for camouflage is a strong reason
for this. You are unlikely to see one, as their glossy
green bodies blend in with their leafy surroundings,
safe from any passing birds or other predators.
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What are crab spiders
The Malaysian orchid
mantis tricks its prey
into believing it is
really a flower.
Crab spiders are spiders that scuttle sideways like
seaside crabs. They use their camouflage as a way to
attack prey undetected. When the spider grabs its
victim, it pumps poison into the prey’s body to paralyse
it. The spider then sucks up the victim’s body fluids.
Crab spiders tend to live in flowers that share the same
colour and markings as them.