The accompanying photo shows a large stick insect, photographed a week ago near Linton. It is an excellent example of camouflage, even when its red-tinged body is placed among grey twigs.
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This one – pictured upside-down – was about 16 or 17cm long. Its head (with fine antennae) is at the left of the photo, and its paired tail segments are at the right.
This large leggy insect appeared on my head without notice, no doubt from a shrub or tree that was brushed against. Stick insects are probably more common than we realise – they are there but seldom seen.
Their camouflage is very effective, especially when their legs and antennae are extended in the same line as the body.
Their wings are often small or absent. This specimen showed no sign of wings, which probably means that it was a female. Males are winged, as well as being smaller.
Stick insects move slowly, and most movement is at night. Sometimes, they sway from side to side when disturbed. When remaining motionless, they extend their front legs out to the front, increasing their stick-like camouflage.
Most species feed on fresh gumleaves, but leaves of other plants are also eaten. They are harmless to us.
While their common name is stick insects, to scientists they are phasmids. The scientific name of the one pictured is possibly Ctenomorpha chronus.
As well as this stick insect, there are other similar looking creatures prominent at this time of the year.
There are large mantises – mostly unseen – lurking in shrubs. Some of these have a body length of more than 10cm, and have green and purple wings.
Unlike the vegetarian stick insects these are predatory, feeding on insects that come near enough for them to grab with their strong front legs.
Yellow-winged locusts are now common in grassy places, as they often are at this time of year.
BIRDS RETURN
A couple of weeks ago, we mentioned the return of white-necked herons to the Ballarat district.
These continue to attract attention by turning up at any sort of wetland, small or large. One was seen on a small dam in the Wombat Forest last weekend.
Also recently returned is the nankeen night heron, reported at several places within the last three or four weeks. There had been very few local sightings for six months or more.
A third waterbird to return after an absence of several months is the yellow-billed spoonbill. There were no reports last month, but there have been at least two sightings in March.
