This leafhopper is a myrmecomorph – it has sprouted lumpy dark extensions of its carapace that resemble an ant. It spends its whole life living in a costume!
This leafhopper is a myrmecomorph – it has sprouted lumpy dark extensions of its carapace that resemble an ant. It spends its whole life living in a costume!
chigau (違う) says
God must have had one wicked hang-over that day.
leerudolph says
The deep evolutionary roots of cosplay!
Caine says
That’s amazing. Really looks like it’s hauling a dead ant around.
Saad: Openly Feminist Gamer says
That’s fascinating! Wow.
cervantes says
Why does looking like an ant deter predators? Lots of critters eat ants.
latveriandiplomat says
@5: Mimicry doesn’t have to make you look invincible to be useful, just tougher than you really are. From the article:
rietpluim says
The mimicry is very convincing. Fooled me at first sight.
Rogue Scientist says
… Never again will I make fun of any Dungeons and Dragons monsters for looking too stupid or ‘unrealistic’. Wolf in sheep’s clothing, I owe you an apology.
chigau (違う) says
Rogue Scientist #8
Your link is seriously borked.
Hank_Says says
Shudder. All I can think of are the Necromorph baddies from the game Dead Space.
Kagato says
You can find it here (down the bottom), along with many other entertainingly stupid D&D monsters.
chigau (違う) says
Kagato #11
Thanks.
That has to be the mostest hideoust web-site for alot of spaceandtime.
Kagato says
Here’s a National Geographic article showcasing a fascinating variety of treehoppers.
Apparently the “helmet” may be modified from a third pair of wings.
The article also mentions a possible evolutionary pathway for their development, and it neatly summarises the the power of genetic drift as an engine of evolution.
Neutral mutations may generate the greatest diversity, because beneficial mutations would rapidly become fixed into essential functions, limiting the fitness of variations.
Crimson Clupeidae says
Yay, insect cosplay!
Dark Jaguar says
Wow, that poor creature got to pick last when evolution was handing out disguises. “I’m an ant!” it says with a dopey grin. Too bad you see a delicious green snack right under it, and the ant mass seemed to evolve backwards like our retinas. Poor thing…