TeachableMoment

joined 5 months ago
1
Grasshopper (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by TeachableMoment@sh.itjust.works to c/entomology@mander.xyz
 

Sorry, no Lemming for scale (Wikipedia tells me a Lemming is '13โ€“18 cm (5โ€“7 in)'. So about the same size. I would imagine there are many about, but I only notice them when they are on doorframes or something.

They happily crawl onto my hand, my coworkers tell me they are delicious grilled, so I don't mention it and go for a walk in the forest.

Southwest Cambodia

 

A very interesting bug. Aside from the colouration it has fuzz on part of its antennae, and horns/ spikes on its back. Another photo from the side in comments.

 

Since they are found in the same places as Scorpions, these always creep me out. Once I see what it is, I shoo it elsewhere. As long as they are handled gently they don't release that defensive stink. Scorpions here readily act defensive, these are much more relaxed. Their colouration is quite interesting.

 

I think that is what it is. Extraordinary climbers. I find them on the second floor of the house every few months. I see them outside a few times a week. Colouration is highly variable locally. Here they are green and black.

Wikipedia and a few other sources say this

Also, it is reported to take snakes occasionally, and to avoid frogs, though frogs are also reported being eaten.

In Cambodia they always take frogs, and will strike poisonous toads, then spit them out.

 

Lovely things, quite relaxed as babies. This one was rescued from a palm tree after a storm. Another photo in body.

 
 

Near the Black Palace on Bokor Mountain