Walking Stick Bug

What a find, a Walking Stick Bug!

I went out yesterday afternoon to grab the mail and noticed this awesome, unique and rare (in my book) critter hanging on my garage door.

Seems it thought it was well hidden, as it did not move when I approached it nor when I had the tape measure next to it. Rather it stuck out like a sore thumb!  Good thing I wasn't a predator looking for a snack.

The below sideview pic is great and captures it's eye really well - 

I relocated the dude onto a potted geranium inside the pool fence.  Hoping it's better hidden with many more options for it to move to and hide in safety -

Certainly a VERY cool find for sure!

I haven't seen one in years, so spotting this one was special.  Interestingly, I had never seen one until I moved to Franklin back in 2000.  Perhaps, Franklin is where all the Walking Stick bugs hail from, you think?!

Diapheromera fermorata

Otherwise known as the Northern Walkingstick.

Yup, I came across this remarkable insect Sunday afternoon. It's only the second one I've ever come across and both have been on our property here. The first one was shortly after we moved in and we found him on an oak tree in the front yard. This one, which is a female, was climbing up the back of the chicken pen.

I am simply blown away with this critter. Out of all the insects I've seen, come across and caught over the years, this one is far and away the best..crikey


Here she is posing on the bud of a Dahlia, above -


Here she is camouflaged and hard to spot, above -


Here she is on a yard stick. She's about 4" long, including her outstretched antenna -

Again, a remarkable insect...

Water Scorpion

I found this insect floating in my pool yesterday. At first I thought it was a walking stick, however, after checking with my sources I've confirmed this not a walking stick but rather a Ranatra, also known as a water stick-insect or water scorpion.

All I can say is COOL...





The Ranatra is considered a predatory insect. They can be found in swimming pools, ponds and lakes. They can also fly. They use there front legs to grasp prey and eat tadpoles, small fish and other insects, which they pierce with their beak and inject a saliva which both sedates and begins to digest their prey.

The walking stick on the other hand is not a problem as a pest either to farmers or to ordinary people. These creatures spend their days motionless hanging from leaves and branches waiting until dark to feed. These peaceful insects are strictly vegetarians feeding on berry, cherry and a variety of other leaves.