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NAMOSS MANTIS VS MOSS HARVESTMAN! Who will move on to the Exquisite Eight?
Thank you to @twins_wild_lens for the beautiful mantis photos!
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Approximate transcript: Moss doesn’t usually have legs…right?? It’s Moss Marchness, the series where YOU decide which moss-dwelling creature is the MOSSt valuable player. Today’s episode: Moss mantid vs moss harvestman.
Haania lobiceps, the Moss Mantis, is a highly adapted little mantid found in tropical habitats across Southeast Asia. Like almost all mantises, they are ambush predators. Their camouflage lets them sit and wait in areas where their prey like to hang out and then, once an unsuspecting little critter comes by, they strike. Beautiful, but deadly. (if you’re a bug).
Algidia viridata, the Moss Harvestman, is a stunning species of Opiliones found in New Zealand. They are opportunistic omnivorous, eating both little tiny creatures and organic material. Their camouflage is not about tricking their prey. Rather, it’s a form of protection, letting them blend into their surroundings to avoid being eaten.
WHICH moss mimicking marvel will move on to the next round? Drop your votes below, make your case in the comments, and KEEP looking for the little things.
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Key words: entomology insects bugs arthropods #mossmarchness #marchmossness march madness moss marchness march mossness bug facts mantodea mantises praying mantis harvestman opiliones daddy longlegs long legs
@naturalistsco
