Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 21, 2011 14:16:54 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Just another critter from the garden, a Giant Texas Walking Stick. The largest US species. IN the tropics they get even larger.This is actually a little female. They get a couple of inches longer and when older are often a nice shade of green. Totally harmless leaf eaters that love wild grape and trumpet vine leaves but are not present in large enough numbers to really cause damage. This one is about 6" long....Mel   |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jun 21, 2011 17:58:49 GMT -5
Yup, they really are cute, aren't they? And way back when I was in high school, they were just the ticket for dropping on some girl's head or down her dress! A real conversation starter. (Just not the conversation you were really after, of course!)
Tom
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Post by gr on Jun 21, 2011 18:06:00 GMT -5
Once in a while we find them around here. What I want to know is how in the world do you know that is a female of the species. I'm sure it's a simple answer but beats me!
I've been seeing more horny toads this year while out collecting. If I can, I bring em home and realease them in my red ant laiden garden. They help out alot.
gr
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Post by Toad on Jun 21, 2011 19:11:58 GMT -5
Sorry, Mel. I can't call that cute.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jun 21, 2011 20:11:37 GMT -5
That's cool!!  |
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Post by tntmom on Jun 21, 2011 20:29:57 GMT -5
That's very interesting... is it in the same family as a preying mantis? The picture brought back a memory of about 18 years ago when I lived in Atlanta, the bank drive up window camera had a resident preying mantis that sat on top of it frequently. I got a kick out of it because it would turn it's little triangular head and watch me put my deposit into the drawer. It freaked me out the first time I saw it, but then I got quite attached to that bug!
~Krystee
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 21, 2011 21:30:26 GMT -5
gr: Males are smaller and very skinny in comparison to females. See males much more than females too. Very sad but horned lizards are very rare here due to imported fire ant infestations.
Krystee: Nope they're not even n the same order as the mantids. We have several mantis types around here too and some are really large and very aggressive, even catching hummingbirds on occasion. Love them though. They are very cool insects and seem quite bright for bugs....Mel
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Post by roy on Jun 22, 2011 0:43:36 GMT -5
your lucky mel you have cool pet wood snakes and bugs
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Post by stonesthatrock on Jun 22, 2011 11:45:17 GMT -5
ok way too many bugs and snakes for me..  |
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blr2449
has rocks in the head
Can I retire now?
Member since January 2011
Posts: 554
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Post by blr2449 on Jun 22, 2011 14:21:06 GMT -5
I love the walking sticks and mantis -- very beneficial in the garden.
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