Often, the aliens in the movies seem taken out of the imagination of the craziest creatives, but this is not always the case. Nature is a great source of inspiration, since it encompasses millions of species of outlandish appearances. Here we present a selection of 10 rare insects that look like extraterrestrials. And yes, it is not necessary to go to another planet, they are much closer than we think ...
10 rare insects that look like movie aliens
What is the rarest bug in the world for you? If you have never thought about them, here are some examples of Nature's extravagances.
1. Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii
A marvel of mantis, which can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, which is known as thorny flower mantis . This rare and curious species stands out for its colorful body, it is white with green and orange stripes.
When the thorny flower mantis feels threatened, it raises its wings to show the predator its great lilac eye. Moreover, the nymphs of this species have a circular spot in their abdomen that resembles the shape of an eye, a perfect design to intimidate enemies.
2. Mecopteras: The scorpion fly.
The Mecoptera are a family of flying insects, among which the scorpion fly or Panorpa communis . It is so called because of its great sting , which resembles that of a scorpion.
But, to our relief, it is completely harmless to humans. In fact, his intimidating sting is nothing more than his reproductive system.
3. Giant moth
Within the world of moths and butterflies, we find examples of incredible size, such as Cecropia moth , which is found in North America and measures 16 centimeters when deploying its wings. But, of course, it is not at all the largest within the family of the Lepidoptera. The Hercules butterfly It can reach 25 centimeters, which makes it the queen of butterflies in Australia. But it takes the palm Atlas butterfly , the largest family of the Saturniidae (a branch of the Lepidoptera).
This species has earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records thanks to its wings, which, deployed, reach 30 centimeters in span.
4. Devilish Idolomantis
Better known as mantis flower of the devil , is for many the rarest bug in the world. Its appearance, rare but beautiful, resembles that of a flower, a wonderful appearance to camouflage itself before the threats. The rarity of this mantis, located in several countries in Africa, has caused it to be one of the insects most sought by man to adopt as a pet.
It was cataloged for the first time in 1988 by the Swiss naturalist Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure.
5. Extatosoma tiaratum
Known as dry leaf insect , the appearance of this stick bug is perfect for camouflage. Its body, covered with small thorns, resembles the leaves of a desert plant. But his figure not only serves to camouflage himself, but also to defend himself.
It has the ability to bend its tail and adopt the appearance of a scorpion , a very useful skill to scare away your enemies. With the versatility presented by the body of this stick bug, it had to be on the list of rare insects.
6. Bombardier beetle
This insect of south of England Apparently, it has nothing of the other world. However, the reason he is on the list is because of his incredible ability to defend himself against his enemies with chemical attacks . This amazing soldier stores hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide in two different chambers and, when the time comes to attack, gathers both substances in another chamber, thus generating quinone and giving way to an explosion. If you want to see a demonstration of this war skill, click here .
7. Stuffed caterpillar
Although with its silky appearance it seems harmless, appearances deceive. The Caterpillar Megalopyge opercularis is surprisingly poisonous, in fact its poisonous spines are wreaking havoc on the east coast of the US UU " The pain depends on the part of the body that has been in contact with the insect and how many spines have been stuck. People who have been stung in the hand claim that the pain can extend up to the shoulder and last up to 12 hours " explains Don Hall, an entomologist at the University of Florida.
In any case, the expert advises that before a sting of the caterpillar plush, it is advisable to remove the thorns as soon as possible, either with tweezers or with cellophane.
8. Panda ant
Although its appearance seems harmless, the bite of this adorable ant is very painful. And although, in addition to "ant panda" also receives the name of "velvet ant", it is actually a bee who lives in the forests of Chile. So even if it looks like a black and white velvet ant, appearances are deceiving.
That is why he has gained a place in the list of rare insects.
9. Hormiga León
Again, even if it receives the name of ant , is not part of this species. Similar to the dragonfly, the Myrmeleontidae belongs to a group of insects called Neuroptera. The name has more to do with your eating habits, because this predatory insect is ant hunter . This is one of the rare insects that can be found in the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
10. Bocydium globulare
This curious Brazilian insect is probably the rarest bug in the world. Its physiognomy seems, of course, of another planet. East Brazilian Membrácido It stands out for the morphology of its head, which ends in a set of four curious balls. Unfortunately, scientists still can not agree on the function of these protuberances.
What do you think about this list of rare insects on our planet?