PhotoS of the Day - Ravenous Bugbladder Beast of Moorepark

[aggienaut]

Came across this fellow on a telephone pole while out strolling about in Moorepark. Actually I went strolling to take photos of kangaroos that were standing picturesquely in a field. I may or may not end up posting those photos, but they weren't as photo worthy as this crazy bastard I noticed on the way home.


It looks like a giant tick!!!! Does anyone have any idea what it is???

And then just a little further on a came across another very large --though substantially less scary looking-- insect (apparently deceased).



Look at the siiize of it! It's like sputnik!

Also I have filthy farmer hands. d:

Comments

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

So weird!

And the fact that they have a 17 year life cycle. Wikipedia was unclear on whatit meant by that -- I'm assuming the eggs just sit in the ground for 17 years? I wonder what the survival rate of the eggs is. Also that would be like a human baby somehow coming into the world hundreds of years after his parents lived.

[drcuriosity]

They live underground as nymphs for most of their life cycle, I gather. Root system sap-suckers.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

the root about down there for 17 years?

Note: presumably not rooting about in the Australian sense.

[drcuriosity]

Not every variety. I think the 17-year ones are only one specific kind.

Given their diet and their above-ground proclivities in the mating season, you could accurately say they're always after a root, though! ;-)

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Lol. One way or another..