Here are two tw**ts that Matthew Cobb (who had insomnia last night after nightmares about his young cat Harry dying [Harry is fine]):
This one has a cute gif, but I don’t understand the title at all. Can any reader furnish a good explanation?
https://twitter.com/Alex_Parker/status/612496391491862528/photo/1
and
https://twitter.com/Strange_Animals/status/611447053655277569/photo/1
That species, known from Sri Lanka and southern India, is also known as the “wandering violin mantis.” Its camouflage makes it resemble sticks and leaves, and the link gives the source of its name:
The Wandering Violin Mantis got its name because the adults look a bit like a violin. Their body would resemble the soundboard of a violin, the head would be the top of the violin and the long and thin midsection of the mantis would be the neck of the violin.
Here are two pictures showing its crypsis as well as a video (they can be kept in captivity, though it’s difficult):
Trigger warning for video: Music (Greensleeves):
“Something something academia” – I think that’s a Family Guy reference, but I don’t understand the academia part.
See https://youtu.be/0oGMbAIcXCQ
I don’t understand it either but the gif is hilarious.
Thank Ceiling Cat for the trigger warning. Greensleeves causes my skin to spontaneously exfoliate.
Never mind the song…it was the blatty, overblown, forced, out-of-tune playing of it that triggered me….
b&
Me too – I like Greensleeves, and was looking forward to it. The rendition was a major disappointment.
Very cool mantis though.
I’ve always loved and been fascinated with praying mantises, and I’ve always loved and had cats. This post is a definite two-fer, and this website has more of both than probably any other on the net. Excellent!
Trigger warning for music! LOL
I just listened to the video. The trigger warning was well-advised. There is nothing worse than bad synth music.
I LOVE the scientific name of the violin mantis! Even though I’m not sure how to pronounce it…
Re: G. gongylodes. I think my cat laid one of these, quite alive thank you very much, on my chest while I was sleeping as a love gift in 1972. I dunno, when I opened my eyes it was macro, so probably not. Besides it was Ohio, so more likely: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphodromantis_viridis
“Good kitty.” That’s all one can say.
That looks just like the American mantis I’m used to seeing.
That doesn’t explain the “wandering” part. Is there a Stationary Violin Mantis that this needs to be distinguished from?