Insecta

Find the Umtali flower beetle in the Great Vivarium. It’s distinguished by its beautiful metallic colors of blue-purple, green and pearl, or by its colorful borders.

Belonging to the Coleoptera order, the Umtali flower beetle is found in the rainforests of Central Africa from Uganda to Zimbabwe. It’s poorly documented to this point, and observation of its behavior at the Insectarium will advance research on the subject. If you’re lucky enough to have a flower beetle land on your hand, it’ll feel very much like a ladybug’s feet.

Meet the giant hooded katydid
in a vivarium of the Insectarium’s Tête-à-tête room.

The giant hooded katydid lives high in the canopy of tropical rainforests. It can be found in the treetops of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and northeastern Australia.

This katydid is impressively large. Females can grow up to 15 cm in body length, with a wingspan reaching 25 cm. While often too heavy to fly, they are capable of gliding.

As with other katydid species, the first dorsal segment of its thorax forms a shape that resembles a hood—hence its name.

Lifestyle and communication

Despite their large size, these katydids are difficult to spot. Nocturnal by nature, they rely on camouflage and their high-canopy habitat for protection.

In addition to stridulating to communicate, giant hooded katydids also produce crackling sounds by rapidly flicking the back of their wings. They can also make contact by generating vibrations through their bodies—for example, by rubbing their abdomens against the substrate. These sounds and signals are used to communicate messages related to defense or mating.

Sound-detecting organs called tympana are clearly visible on the tibiae of the katydid’s front legs. Additional sound-receiving structures, known as acoustic spiracles, are located on the first segment of the thorax.

Discover the giant prickly strick insect
in a vivarium in the Tête-à-tête room at the Insectarium.

The giant prickly stick insect is native to eastern Australia. Like many stick insects, it is a master of disguise, relying on camouflage to evade predators. By mimicking the shape and texture of a leaf, it blends seamlessly into its surroundings.

A defense arsenal

The adult male has well-developed wings and can fly away from danger.

The female cannot fly, but she can curl her abdomen upward, adopting an intimidating posture.

As a last resort, the stick insect uses its spiny legs as pincers.

The giant prickly stick insect can also secrete a caramel-scented substance from its mouthparts. While harmless to humans, this secretion may help deter predators.

Eggs that fool ants

The eggs of giant prickly stick insect resemble certain seeds that ants find irresistible. This tricks ants into carrying the eggs back to their nests. This clever adaptation helps protect and disperse the eggs.

When the young nymphs hatch, they curl their abdomens, and their coloration and movements give them the appearance of ants. This form of mimicry allows the newly hatched insects to leave the ant nest unnoticed.

Like some other stick insect species, the female giant prickly stick insect can reproduce through parthenogenesis. This mode of reproduction is characterized by the absence of fertilization by a male.

You can observe owl butterflies
in the Insectarium’s Great Vivarium.

Owl butterflies, from the Caligo genus, are found in the tropical forests of the Americas. Large eyespots on the underside of their wings resemble the eyes of an owl.

Several species of this butterfly are crepuscular. Because of their large size and fast flight, they are sometimes mistaken for bats.

Their eggs are hemispherical, with one flat side. They are laid either singly or in clusters.

Recognizable caterpillars

Owl butterfly caterpillars can grow up to 10 cm long. They often have horns or spines at the ends of their head or abdomen.

These caterpillars are gregarious and can cause economic damage when they proliferate in banana or palm plantations.