Hiding in Plain Sight

The insects of the jungle are truly amazing in their abilities to mimic their surroundings in order to blend in and evade predators.  There are always lots of insects in the jungle, but the days of July and August, when the rains have begun, seems to be the time for a surge in insect births, particularly those that eat the new green shoots of plants.  This healthy specimen was very hard to spot on the bottom of the leaves of this plant, and the best way to find him and his tribe is to watch for half-eaten leaves.

This little critter was amazing!  Even after it was pointed out to me, it looked like any other piece of dust or dirt that had blown by and stuck to a leaf.  I had to watch it move and eat before I could believe that it was alive.

And this one looks exactly like bird poop!  What a way to hide!!  He can crawl right across the top of any leaf he chooses, and as long as he doesn’t crawl too fast, who would ever think to investigate more closely?  Nature is truly amazing!!