Achrioptera manga
| Distribution: | Madagascar |
| Size: | 240mm |
| Diet: | Salal, bramble, eucalyptus, oak, & raspberry leaves |
I kept some of these as pets with the hope they’d reach maturity, which is when the males suddenly adopt this incredible blue colour. When younger, Achrioptera manga are actually brilliant stick impersonators – combining an extremely long brown twig-like body with very short legs. They would often fold up their middle pair of legs which created the uncanny impression of a small bud coming off the main twig.
Aside from the striking blue colouration, you’ve probably noticed the vibrant red wings. Whilst these wings are brachypterous (which means they’re so small that they’re incapable of flight), their bold red colour allows them to be used as a display to ward off potential predators* – such a display is known as aposematism, and you’ll find many bugs that I’ve drawn use such devices to deter foes.
*And me – they would often politely tell me to leave them alone
Take a closer look…
