THEY CAN ALSO BE MASTERS OF DECEPTION AND DISGUISE…

Insects may be small but they should never be underestimated. Thanks to millions of years of evolution, some species have developed ingenious ways to stay hidden from predators or pretend to be entirely different animals.

Stick insect

Stick insects largely live in trees and when a predator such as a bird approaches, they try to stay completely still in order to blend in with the branches. They are also the world’s longest insects and can stretch to 55 cm.

Snake mimic caterpillar

When it is threatened, this crafty caterpillar puffs up the front of its body so that it looks like a venomous snake, complete with a diamond-shaped ‘face’ and large, snake-like ‘eyes’. Would you be fooled by its disguise?

Thorn bug

By looking like the spiky parts of plants, thorn bugs try to avoid being eaten by birds and large insects. They also use their green and brown colouring as camouflage to blend in with plant stems and leaves.

Orchid mantis

Looper moth

Looper moths are among the great insect impersonators. As caterpillars, they look almost identical to small twigs. After they’ve transformed into moths, their patterned wings help them blend in to the bark of trees.

This meat-eating insect uses its disguise to look like part of an orchid, which is a beautiful tropical flower. The mantis does this to attract flies and bees, which it then gobbles up!

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