this giant grasshopper delivers about 50 calories if consumed which is why bugs
have devised some remarkable ways to avoid being eaten
this giant spiny stick insect from New Guinea is aptly named long sharp spines
protrude from its back legs like daggers these defensive weapons can inflict a
very painful stab so most predators leave the stick insect alone
these young South American giant grasshoppers don't seem to have any form
of defense so why do they hang around in large groups out in the open sporting
bright colors that make them stand out because these are no ordinary colors
orange on black is nature's warning sign I'm poisonous and taste foul leave me
alone and it works if an inexperienced predator takes a bite of these guys it
won't make the same mistake twice this caterpillar of the monarch butterfly
sends the same message it's packed with poisons stored from the nuclear plants
that it eats it's a universal signal to predators anything black and white with
bright red orange or yellow is best avoided
like this conspicuous Asian assassin bug but this beastly bug is doubly equipped
carrying poison and a dagger it has a very sharp hollow beak that injects
toxins into its prey before sucking them dry wielding this hypodermic needle it
can defend itself against any predator that tries to eat it and the toxins
provide an excruciating bite the Natalie dressed
tiger beetle lives in the same grasslands as the assassin bug and
sports a very similar wardrobe decked out in vivid black and white but it's
all aru's tiger beetles are mimics they fool predators into thinking they're
poisonous
so for this tiger beetle its biggest threat right now is another tiger beetle
stealing its dinner warning colors are even more effective if they come with
the element of surprise
the hind wings of this Peruvian stick insect are normally hidden their tiny
useless for flight but create a bright flash of color that startles predators
nicosia stick insects use a similar trick but they can actually fly the
flash of shocking pink distracts predators while the insect gets out of
Dodge a dead leaf mantis sits almost invisible in its disguise
but if it is discovered plan B it springs to life flashing its dramatic
ice spots which must belong to a fearsome creature it's enough to scare
off most predators
I sports obviously work well they're used by all sorts of bugs this elephant
hawk moth caterpillar has a tiny head and two pairs of giant false eyes on the
fattest juiciest part of its body moths and butterflies have turned fake eyes
into an art form they even have bright white patch lights just like the
reflections on real eyes
being so small bugs might seem easy prey but they found lots of ways to defend
themselves from poison to mimicry and Bluff
you