Chien C. Lee

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  • Leaf insect (Phyllium agnesagamaae) , male. Unlike their larger and more heavily bodied female counterparts, male Leaf Insects (family Phyllidae) have fully developed wings and are capable of flight. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf insect (Phyllium zomproi), juvenile. Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Parastheneboea neglecta, a rare stick insect known from only a few specimens from the rainforest of western Borneo. Batang Ai, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Stick insect (Orthomeria superba), male showing parasitic mites. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • An undescribed species of moss-mimicking stick insect from the montane forest of Sulawesi. South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Long antennae are an important sensory apparatus for many insects but they can be a hindrance when it comes to concealing yourself. Some species, such as this mossy stick insect (Antongilia lacinata), have given them up (having only short antenna) in favor of better camouflage, probably a good trade-off considering this insect isn't highly mobile anyway. Photographed exactly as found on a mossy tree trunk. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Although perfectly camouflaged among lichens when at rest, if a threat is detected this stick insect (Pseudodiacantha chieni) raises its butterfly-like wings as a warning to predators, whilst simultaneously emitting a strong chemical odor. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • In a habitat that would be deadly to most other insects, the freezing temperatures high on the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador are home to a very unusual walkingstick: Monticomorpha flavolimbata. Feeding on páramo vegetation that is frequently crusted over with frost, this species has been recorded at altitudes of up to 5000m, making it the highest elevation known for any stick insect. Presumably its dark coloration helps it to more efficiently absorb the sun’s fleeting warmth.
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  • A juvenile leaf insect (Nanophyllium australianum) from the rainforest of Iron Range National Park. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Remarkable moss mimicry of a Madagascan stick insect (Antongilia lacinata). Visual camouflage adaptations such as this are predominantly aimed at protection from diurnal predators, hence these insects usually conceal themselves by day on mossy tree trunks. At night they roam about on the understory vegetation completely exposed while foraging for fresh leaves to feed on; their extravagant crypsis inconsequential in total darkness. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Stick insect (Dinophasma braggi), male. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Leaf insect (Cryptophyllium oyae), male. Usually considerably rarer than the flightless females, male Phyllium can also be distinguished by their narrower body shape and long antennae. The taxonomy of many Phyllium species remain poorly studied due to how infrequently they are observed. Ha Giang, Vietnam.
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  • Mossy stick insect (Phobaeticus foliatus), juvenile female. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Orthostheneboea exotica, female (Previously Parastheneboea), a moss-mimicking stick insect endemic to Borneo. Sarawak, Malaysia.
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  • Touch-Me-Not Stick Insect (Epidares nolimetangere), male. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Giant Prickly Stick Insect (Extatosoma popa). Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Mossy stick insect (Taraxippus samarae), female. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • A master of camouflage, this rare stick insect (Trychopeplus laciniatus) is perfectly suited for its arboreal lifestyle in the mossy forests of Central America. It feeds exclusively on the foliage of several epiphytic orchid species. Cartago, Costa Rica.
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  • Stick insect (Dinophasma saginatum), mating. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy stick insect (Phobaeticus foliatus), female. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy stick insect (Neoclides laceratus), female. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Although incapable of flight, this female Crowned Stick Insect (Onchestus rentzi) employs her wings for an entirely different purpose: defense. She has excellent camouflage when at rest but if discovered and threatened she will abruptly raise her wings as a startle tactic. The sudden increase in size and flash of color may cause some would-be predators to think twice before attacking. This species has a fascinating mode of reproduction: the females drop their small brown eggs at random on the forest floor where they are often mistaken for seeds by ants who then gather them for storage underground. The eggs then are able to mature in a relatively safe environment. Queensland, Australia.
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  • Stick insect (Paraloxopsis korystes) showing superb cryptic camouflage. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • It’s always important to have a backup plan. The first line of defense for most stick insects is of course their excellent camouflage, but sometimes this just isn’t enough. If this giant Diesbachia sophiae is attacked, it suddenly transforms from a green stick into a startling display by raising its boldly checkered wings. This may be enough to make some predators think twice before going in for the kill, giving enough time for the insects to escape. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Among the most cryptically camouflaged of all invertebrates, leaf insects (Phyllium spp.) are difficult to find in their natural habitat. Many new species have been described from Southeast Asia in recent years. This is a subadult female (P. arthurchungi) from the rainforest of northern Borneo.
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  • Phyllium bioculatum.  Leaf insects (family Phylliidae) are found in tropical forested areas in South and Southeast Asia.  They are slow-moving foliage eaters and rely on their incredible camouflage for defense.  West Java, Indonesia.
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  • It can be argued that the perfection of camouflage is largely driven by the acuity of a predator’s vision. In many insects, such as among the great diversity of stick insects (phasmids), this selective pressure probably derives from the keen eyesight of insectivorous birds. Here, a female phasmid (Hermagoras sigillatus) from the Bornean rainforest performs a remarkable crypsis by folding her front legs forward, their expanded flanges matching together to form the resemblance of a decaying twig. This disguise not only breaks up the outline of her head (at bottom in this photo), but also conceals her antennae which otherwise could give away her disguise. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Epidares nolimetangere, male. With over 300 recognized species, Borneo is the richest area in the world for stick insects (order Phasmatodea). This species is endemic to Borneo and a number of color variations have been found throughout the island, such as this pure red form originating from central Sarawak.
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  • Stick insects are often thought of as being some of the most cryptically-colored of all animals, an adaptation that enables them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings and avoid detection from predators. However, some species such as this red-and-blue Calvisia sp. from central Borneo, take a completely different approach to defense; its bright coloration likely warns of a noxious chemical defense. Predators are quick to learn that prey insects which aren’t hiding themselves, are probably hiding a surprise instead. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Pygmy Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) makes a meal of a giant stick insect (Tirachoidea sp.).  Although primarily insectivorous, these nocturnal primates will also feed on fruit, sap, flowers, lizards, and nestling birds.  Captive. Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
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  • Stick insects (Dajaca monilicornis), mating pair. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mating pair of stick insects (Staelonchodes sodalis) showing extreme dimorphism between male and female of the same species. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mantispid (family Mantispidae), also known as a ‘mantidfly’. Looking something like a praying mantis crossed with a lacewing, this tiny predator uses the same raptorial front legs to grab its prey and hold them fast while eating them alive. Contrary to their appearance, they are not closely related to mantids, implying that this effective hunting strategy has evolved on more than one occasion in the insect kingdom. Pulong Tau National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Not all gaudy appearances are a disguise – some are simply a warning. Quite a number of moth species deceptively mimic the shape and color of stinging insects (such as wasps and bees), but others such as this Window-winged Moth (Glanycus coendersi) don’t appear to resemble any particular model. Instead, the bright aposematic coloration of this insect is believed to be a bold advertisement of its distastefulness. This defense works as an effective signal to predators, thereby allowing the moth to exploit other lifestyle advantages such as foraging during daylight hours (e.g. this is a diurnal species) while other moths must retreat into hiding until nightfall. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The dreaded Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata), in possession of the most painful sting on the planet, here has fallen prey to an even more sinister organism: a parasitoid fungus (Ophiocordycipitaceae). The ‘zombification’ of insects in tropical rainforests has been well documented, but the incredibly precise way that these fungi control the behavior of their hosts prior to consuming them is not yet fully understood. Recent research indicates that, rather than invading the brain which might kill the insect prematurely, the fungus may directly control the muscles of its host like a puppet. In this way it can lead the ant to a location where it is more likely to infect others. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Mantispid (family Mantispidae), also known as a ‘mantidfly’. Looking something like a praying mantis crossed with a lacewing, this tiny predator uses the same raptorial front legs to grab its prey and hold them fast while eating them alive. Contrary to their appearance, they are not closely related to mantids, implying that this effective hunting strategy has evolved on more than one occasion in the insect kingdom. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A fly-mimicking weevil (Hoplocopturus sp.) from the Ecuadorian rainforest. Most cases of insect mimicry involve the imitation of a toxic or distasteful species as a model, so the reason for this beetle to appear like an entirely edible fly is not immediately apparent. However, entomologists studying these insects suggest that because flies are so agile and quick, most visually-oriented predators (particularly birds) probably learn to avoid wasting their time pursuing them, hence the incentive for this “evasive mimicry”. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • A fly-mimicking weevil (Hoplocopturus sp.) from the Ecuadorian rainforest. Most cases of insect mimicry involve the imitation of a toxic or distasteful species as a model, so the reason for this beetle to appear like an entirely edible fly is not immediately apparent. However, entomologists studying these insects suggest that because flies are so agile and quick, most visually-oriented predators (particularly birds) probably learn to avoid wasting their time pursuing them, hence the incentive for this “evasive mimicry”. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Napo, Ecuador.
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  • In possession of one of the most painful stings in the insect world, tarantula wasps (Pepsis spp.) are avoided by just about every animal in the forest. This makes them a great thing to be mistaken for, especially if you happen to be an otherwise defenseless katydid such as this (Aganacris velutina). The katydid not only mimics the wasp’s distinctive coloration of a shiny black body with bright orange wings and antennae, but also its quick and jerky movements, making it appear decidedly ‘un-katydidlike’. This is particularly amazing considering katydids are family of insects normally renowned for their remarkable camouflage colorations. Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • With its fearsome appearance, the Spiny Devil (Panacanthus cuspidatus) surely ranks as one of the most impressive of all katydids. Endemic to the upper Amazon Basin, this large insect uses its prickly front legs in self-defense and also to capture prey – it feeds both on vegetation and other insects. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata), a big reason why hikers in the Amazonian rainforest always proceed with trepidation when stepping off the trail into thick vegetation. One of the largest ants in the world, this species is infamous for its ferocious sting which some (unfortunate) individuals consider equivalent in pain to being shot. The ant's sting contains a neurotoxic venom and has been rated by biologists as the only perfect "4+" on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, making it the most painful of all insect stings. Coca, Ecuador.
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  • In the insect world, even having a vicious sting isn’t enough to always save you from some larger predators. Here, in the dry spiny forest of southern Madagascar, a wasp has fallen prey to a giant robber fly (Microstylum sp.). With fast wings, excellent eyesight, and piercing mouthparts, robber flies catch other insects in mid flight and suck out their insides like a juice pack. Berenty Private Reserve, Amboasary, Madagascar.
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  • Lantern Bug (Pyrops candelarius) from Indochina.  Like other planthoppers, this insect feeds on tree sap by means of its piercing mouthparts.  The name refers to the erroneous belief that the snout-like projection emits light. Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam.
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  • Tiny, ubiquitous, and comprising many thousands of species, parasitoid wasps extract a heavy toll on their hosts, with many species responsible for keeping other insect populations in check. Here, a female wasp (Anastus sp.), just a few millimeters in length, drills her ovipositer into the eggshell of an Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas), the world's largest moth. Her developing larvae will consume the contents of the egg and pupate therein before emerging as adults. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With a full palette of colorful wing scales at their disposal, butterflies are capable of pulling off some of the most convincing and complex mimicries in the insect world. At first glance this is a common clear-winged Ithomiid butterfly, which are known for their toxicity and unpalatability. However, it is actually a Clearwinged Mimic-white (Dismorphia theucharila), a non-toxic species of the family Pieridae. It can be distinguished from its toxic models (Oleria spp.) by counting the number of legs: Dismorphia has six, whereas Oleria stands on only four. Insectivorous birds don’t have time to stop and count the legs on every butterfly in the forest, so this mimicry is a highly successful one. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • In the Borneo rainforest, a leaf isn't always what it seems. Many tropical trees and shrubs have pale or reddish young leaves as part of a strategy to deter herbivory: the absence of green chlorophyll reduces their nutritive value. Here, an orange morph leaf-legged katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum) mimics this exact foliage type. This insect  has been found to have a variety of colorations ranging from green to yellow and red, an adaptation that probably makes it more difficult for their predators to learn a fixed search image for any particular color. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Research has revealed that the marginal eyespots in butterflies can serve to deflect bird attacks away from the insect's vital spots, thereby allowing escape. This effect is particularly effective in the low light intensities of the dim forest understory and at dawn or dusk when the resting butterflies are particularly prone to predation by birds. This individual (Faunis stomphax) shows evidence of having escaped two attacks by birds which attempted to grab the butterfly by the wing eyespots. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Wax-tailed Planthopper (Pterodictya reticularis). The waxy filaments may serve to mimic an insect that has been keeled by parasitoid fungi, and thus dispel a predator's interest. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • With almost a sinister beauty, this garden of parasitoid fungus (possibly Akanthomyces) sprouts its fruiting bodies from the back of a moth it has killed. These release millions of microscopic spores which are dispersed into the surrounding area. When ingested by another insect they spell certain doom. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Callambulyx amanda. Although this sphinx moth (family Sphingidae) is perfectly camouflaged against green foliage when it is resting, any disturbance from an animal will prompt it to flash its brightly colored hind wings and suspicious-looking eyespots. This startle tactic is the insect's only defense against predators and is a common coloration theme found in many moth species. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Feared by some, revered by others, the Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is surely one of Madagascar's most bizarre lemurs. Unique among primates, the Aye-aye's front incisors grow continuously like a rodent, leading to the early belief that they were some sort of gigantic nocturnal squirrel. Equally unusual are its long bony middle fingers which are used by the animal to tap tree trunks for the sound of insect grubs inside and then extract them like a fish hook. Unfortunately, Aye-ayes have become gravely endangered from habitat loss and persecution by people: they are often killed on sight due to the superstition that they are an omen of death. Tomasina, Madagascar.
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  • With uncanny precision, this grasshopper (Chorotypus sp.) displays its mimicry of a dead leaf down to the finest details. Why do some organisms go to such extreme lengths for their camouflage while others can get by with a much simpler appearance? The answer of course is largely due to what they are hiding from: there is a direct correlation between the detail of camouflage and the visual acuity of their specific predators. In this case, the sharp eyes of small insectivorous birds, like the hands of a master craftsman, provide the driving force to some of the most eccentric insect appearances. Batang Ai, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Looking as if it were dipped in liquid gold, a jewel scarab (Chrysina argenteola) almost seems more mineral than insect. Renowned for their remarkable colorations, Chrysina beetles fetch high prices among collectors, with some species and color variations fetching hundreds of dollars. Recent research into the metallic nature of their exoskeletons reveals that it possesses unique properties in the way it reflects polarized light, essentially being 'optically ambidextrous'. The reason why they have such unusual colorations still remains a mystery, although it has been suggested that the highly reflective surface may serve to camouflage them under the right lighting conditions, or even perhaps dazzle predators. Canandé Reserve, Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Arguably Madagascar’s most iconic insect: the Comet Moth (Argema mittrei). Despite its obvious beauty, the long twisted tails of its wings aren’t made for aesthetic purposes – recent studies have shown that they play an important role in defense against their main predator: echolocating bats. When closing in for a kill, the acoustic reflections from the tail confuse the bat so that it misses the moth’s body, often ending up with nothing but a bit of broken tail in its mouth. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator. Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance. This juvenile specimen will lose some of its petal-like appearance when it matures. West Java, Indonesia.
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  • Sap-feeding bugs such as this lanternfly (Pyrops whiteheadi) ingest large quantities of the nutrient-poor fluid, excreting the excess in the form of honeydew. Here a gecko (Gehyra mutilata) waits below the insect for an opportunistic meal of the sweet fluid. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • After detecting the presence of a wood-boring grub with her antennae, a female ichneumon wasp drills through the tree bark with her ovipositor to deposit an egg on the insect's body. Halmahera, Indonesia.
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  • Incredible camouflage of a neotropical epiphyll-mimicking katydid (Clepsydronotus deciduus). Ephiphylls are tiny plants and lichens that grow on the surfaces of leaves in tropical rainforests, usually being detrimental to their host because they block light to the leaves. Having selected such an epiphyll-ridden leaf, the katydid is able to blend with the mottled colors and rough texture to conceal itself despite being completely exposed on the upper surface. Notice also how the katydid has carefully folded its long threadlike antennae under itself – if they were to stick out then the insect could be much more easily discovered by sharp-eyed birds. Choco, Colombia.
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  • “Parasitoids” are defined as different from “parasites” in that they ultimately kill their host, and among the most nefarious of these are those that are able to manipulate the behavior of their host, keeping them alive only until they no longer need them. This unfortunate katydid is in the process of having a horsehair worm (Nematomorpha) vacate its body. Although the katydid is still alive, the worm has slowly devoured most of its internal organs while growing inside to many times the length of its host’s body. Even when fully developed, the worm keeps from killing the insect because it uses it for transport – somehow compelling the katydid to seek out a source of water where the worm can finally complete its life cycle. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Arguably Madagascar’s most iconic insect: the Comet Moth (Argema mittrei). Despite its obvious beauty, the long twisted tails of its wings aren’t made for aesthetic purposes – recent studies have shown that they play an important role in defense against their main predator: echolocating bats. When closing in for a kill, the acoustic reflections from the tail confuse the bat so that it misses the moth’s body, often ending up with nothing but a bit of broken tail in its mouth. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Spiny helmeted katydid (Sasima sp.) from the rainforest of southern New Guinea. The bristly armaments on this juvenile specimen serve not only to deter predators, but also to disguise the insect in the mossy forest understory. Helmet katydids (Phyllophorinae) comprise some of the world's largest species. Digul River, South Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • In the Borneo rainforest, leaves are not always what they seem. Here, a beam of sunlight filtering down from the canopy illuminates an extraordinary insect. Officially described and named just last year, this leaf katydid (Eulophophyllum lobulatum) is one of two species in its genus on mainland Borneo that share the unusual wings and leaf-like legs, rendering it a marvel of animal crypsis. Although this male specimen is lime-green, females bear a striking pinkish coloration. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator. Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance. This juvenile specimen will lose some of its petal-like appearance when it matures. West Java, Indonesia.
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  • The Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) is an ambush predator.  Utilizing its superb camouflage it waits for unsuspecting insect prey to come withing striking distance.  Pictured here is a juvenile specimen. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The haunting hollow skeleton of a fly is all that remains after being consumed alive by a parasitoid fungi (Ophiocordyceps cf. dipterigena) in the New Guinean rainforest. Two different types of fruiting bodies have emerged from the fly's body: the dorsal 'mushrooms' (ascostroma) are perfectly positioned to release tiny spores on the fungi's next victim. The tropics hold a great diversity of these entomopathogenic fungi, with undoubtedly many undescribed species, each apparently tailored to target specific insect hosts. West Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Camouflage or a more cunning mimicry? Although cryptically patterned, this flatid planthopper from the Madagascan rainforest doesn't appear to blend particularly well against the tree bark on which it rests. However, a closer examination of its lace-like texture reveals that it is covered with filamentous white tufts, giving it a remarkable resemblance to an insect corpse that has been consumed by an entomopathogenic fungus. Given the abundance of such fungi in these wet forests, and their undesirability as food, this may be a clever strategy to deceive predators. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Looking like a cross between a dragonfly and a butterfly, owlflies (family Ascalaphidae) are in fact more closely related to ant lions and lacewings. These nocturnal predators feed on small insects that they catch on the wing. By day, they sleep concealed on twigs, or in this unusual case (Cordulecerus sp.), as a group together on a root hanging above a stream. Sleeping in an aggregation with their antennae held outstretched in a perimeter may help to better detect the approach of predators, keeping the group safer than sleeping alone. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A predatory Robber Fly (Cophinopoda sp.) waits on a blade of grass for passing insects. South Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Within the chamber of a giant pitcher plant (Nepenthes rajah), an iridescent Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites sp.) emerges from its pupal case. These large mosquitoes do not suck blood, feeding instead on flower nectar and plant sap. The larvae are voracious predators of aquatic insects, including the young of other mosquitoes. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Black-bearded Tomb Bat (Taphozous melanopogon) roosts in caves and large rock crevices, emerging at night to feed on insects high above the forest canopy. It is found throughout much of mainland Southeast Asia as well as Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. It's echolocation calls while flying are audible as high pitched clicks. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A male Whitehead's Broadbill (Calyptomena whiteheadi) returns to its nest where it passes food to the hungry chick. Both male and female care for the nestlings, providing insects and fruit, as well as removing fecal pellets. This scarcely-seen species is the largest of all the green broadbills (reaching 27cm in length) and is endemic to the montane forests of Borneo. Sabah, Malaysia.
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  • Superbly adapted for its specific microhabitat, this Bornean Bark Mantis (Theopompa borneana) blends almost seamlessly with the tree where it lives. These efficient predators hunt for insects on the sides of trees using their superb vision, speed, and spiny raptorial front legs. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Monsters do exist - at least in the Borneo rainforest. Another of the island's amazing katydids, this is the Malaysian Giant Katydid (Arachnacris tenuipes), one of the world's largest insects (measuring 15cm in length without the wings open). Despite their alarming size they are rather gentle herbivores, that is unless you make the mistake of trying to grab one with your bare hands. Kicking with their powerful spiny hind legs they can inflict some serious pain, but at least they usually warn predators first by emitting very loud raspy clicks with their wings. Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mossy masquerade: a young Moss Mimic Katydid (Championica montana) doing what it does best. If you specialize in eating moss it’s a big plus if you look like it as well. In the damp cloud forests of Costa Rica, every surface is covered with dripping wet bryophytes, such as the leaf this katydid is perched on. Although abundant, it’s not the most energy rich food in the world, so these insects conserve their energy by moving slowly while they graze. Faced with a potential threat, they simply lay flat against the mossy substrate and disappear. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • Violin Beetle (Mormolyce matejmiciaki). Violin Beetles are found in forested habitats in tropical Southeast Asia. Their bizarre flattened wing-sheaths allow them to maneuver under tree bark and cracks where they hunt for other insects. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Warning colorations, such as those exhibited by these tiny fungus beetles (Corynomalus marginatus), which exude a foul chemical when disturbed, doesn’t always guarantee immunity from predators. To enhance their defense, many such insects often cluster in aggregations; not only is there greater safety in numbers but the combined colorations of all the individuals together results in an amplified warning signal that encourages even naive predators to get the message. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • An elegantly camouflaged katydid from the rainforests of Borneo: Despoina spinosa. This species feeds primarily on the foliage of figs (Ficus spp.) and can somehow get past the toxic white latex that protects these leaves from most other insects. Some 'sylvan katydids' (Pseudophyllinae) such as this are able to rotate and flatten their wings, enabling them to conceal their profile against the surface of a leaf when at rest. Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus) living up to its name: here with a large black carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.) it has caught in mid-air. While most bee-eaters prefer open woodlands and forest edges, this species is unusual in that it is typically found deep within rainforest. Flashy colors in birds are often possessed only by the males and typically function as a means of advertising for a mate. However, in this species both males and females sport a bright red face, which suggests that the coloration may serve a different purpose. One theory is that this may serve to attract flower-feeding insects to venture closer for a look - a convenient way for the bird to catch an easy meal. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With its unique patterns and remarkably long front legs, the Harlequin Beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) is one of the most impressive and distinctive insects of the Neotropics. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • Primarily restricted to New Guinea, helmeted katydids (subfamily Phyllophorinae) are readily distinguished from others by the large shield-like process which extends over the front part of their body and is frequently armed on the sides with sharp spines. Also, in a family of insects which are famous for their ubiquitous calls, these katydids stand apart for the inability to sing. Lacking the typical sound-producing apparati of most katydids, the method by which females and males of these species are able to find each other at night in the tangled rainforest understory remains a mystery. Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • At only 12cm in length, the Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx fallax) is one of the smallest kingfishers. It is a bird of the forest, feeding on small lizards and insects, and is endemic to Sulawesi and a few offshore islands, although scarce and patchily distributed. Gorontalo, Indonesia.
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  • Although the vast Australian outback is famous for its aridity, poor soils, and tortuous heat in summer, a surprising number of colorful creatures make this habitat their home. One of these is the aptly named Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens), a dainty yet bold bird that lives in small groups that hunt insects among the desert scrub. Despite the male’s gaudy plumage (as shown here), he will supplement his courtship efforts by wooing the female with pink or purple flower petals he has carefully plucked. Shark's Bay, Western Australia.
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  • The size of your gun doesn’t matter when you’re outnumbered. Although in possession of one of the most powerful stings of all insects, this giant Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata) is easily overcome by far smaller leafcutter ants (Atta cephalotes) after it inadvertently wandered too close to their nest. Leafcutters are not predatory, but their sharp mandibles, which are designed for slicing leaves, are so powerful that they make quick work of the intruder, dismembering it in a matter of minutes. Limón, Costa Rica.
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  • As some of the most vital sensory organs among insects, it's no wonder that antennae come in a great variety of shapes and sizes to suit their various specializations. Here, a male Callirhipid beetle displays his extravagant feelers which are over half the length of his body. Like the feathery antennae of some male moths, this shape is designed to maximize the surface area to enable detection of even the faintest pheromones of distant females. However, unlike moths, these 'flabellate' (fan-like) antennae can be neatly folded away for protection when they're not needed, such as when the beetle is burrowing under bark or in rotten wood. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Violin Beetle (Mormolyce matejmiciaki). Violin Beetles are found in forested habitats in tropical Southeast Asia. Their bizarre flattened wing-sheaths allow them to maneuver under tree bark and cracks where they hunt for other insects. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia.
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  • Nearly invisible, this katydid’s (Arnobia sp.) patterned wings and profile match almost seamlessly with the corrugated texture of the leaf on which it perches. There is increasing evidence that some insects actively seek out substrates which maximize their camouflage, but exactly how they achieve this in a bewildering microcosm of varied colors and a range of predators that have better eyesight than they do remains unclear. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Once their camouflage has failed, many insects resort to an alternative strategy - trying to make themselves appear as large and intimidating as possible. This harmless leaf katydid (Tympanophyllum arcufolium) from the Borneo rainforest is attempting to do just that by standing on its head and spreading its translucent wings. Male Tympanophyllum katydids are renowned for the loud and eerie violin-like calls they make, which adds to the magical abience of the Bornean rainforest at night. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A view from within the pitcher of this semi-carnivorous plant (Nepenthes ampullaria). Without a protective lid as in most other species of Nepenthes, the pitchers of N. ampullaria are exposed to rain as well as a continual fall of leaf litter from the forest canopy. In this way they are able to derive a significant portion of their nutrients from detritus. The dark objects on the inner rim are pupae of a Megaselia fly whose larvae feed on dead insects within the pitcher fluid. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A Gursky's Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius spectrumgurskyae) perches outside of its tree hole roost. These tiny nocturnal primates emerge every evening to hunt for insects. Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • The impressive Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus celebensis) is the largest agamid lizard in the world, reaching over 1 m in length.  They are very agile swimmers and are seldom found far from rivers.  They feed on leaves and insects. Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Colobopsis schmitzi ant on peristome of Nepenthes bicalcarata pitcher. Although these carnivorous plants trap most insects, this ant has a mutualistic relationship with the plant and is able to freely walk on the slippery surface. Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although many small insects disguise themselves as ants to take advantage of their unpalatability, mimicry by another ant species is quite a rare occurrence. At a quick glance the two ants in this photo appear the same, especially while they are quickly scurrying down a stem, but closer inspection reveals that in fact there is a clever deception taking place. The ant at the bottom is Crematogaster inflata, an uncommon species from the rainforests of Borneo, which is distinctive in having a swollen orange metathorax. Its glands can exude a toxic sticky fluid as a defense and predators thus tend to avoid this species, heeding its bright warning coloration. At top is a relatively harmless Camponotus ant (actually an unnamed species) that mimics the Crematogaster in size, shape, and color - although its orange coloration is found on its abdomen rather than its thorax.  Observations of this species are rare but curiously, these Camponotus mimics have only ever been observed in close proximity to colonies of Crematogaster inflata. The exact nature of their association and whether or not these mimics derive other advantages from their toxic models is still unknown. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • While the majority of katydids masquerade as leaves, this species (Anaphidna sp.) takes on a different strategy: it rests with its wings raised in the air to mimic a lichen-covered twig. The long filamentous antennae of many insects, which can sometimes betray their camouflage to a predator and are thus often kept tucked away for concealment, are in this species deceptively disguised with bends and kinks. Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A robber fly (family Asilidae) killed by parasitic fungus (Ophiocordyceps dipterigena). This fungus specializes in feeding on adult flies. After consuming the interior of its host the cream-colored fruiting bodies emerge and release spores to infect new insects. North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Deep within a cave in Mulu National Park, the sticky threads secreted by the larvae of a fungus midge (family Mycetophilidae) function as a trap for small flying insects.  When ensnared in this trap, prey are reeled in and eaten. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The Western Tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus borneanus), also known as Horsfield's Tarsier, is a small nocturnal primate occurring in the lowland forests of Sumatra and Borneo. They are carnivorous and feed mainly on insects, but occasionally take birds and bats. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • With an adult size usually under 405g, the Pygmy Slow Loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus) is the smallest of all lorises. It is strictly nocturnal and survives on a diet of insects and fruit. Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam.
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  • In the understory of the Amazonian rainforest, a small piece of dead vegetation hanging beneath a leaf is revealed to be a camouflaged mantis (Metilla coloradensis) guarding her egg case (ootheca). Parental care like this in insects is a rare thing: it occurs in only about 1% of all species because as it is possible only for those which produce a smaller number of offspring. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A column of nomadic Asian army ants (Aenictus laeviceps) carry their developing larvae to a new temporary nesting site. Ants of the genus Aenictus are specialized predators on other social insects, including wasps, bees, termites, and other ant species. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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