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Walking Stick w/parasite
Pseudophasma bispinosum
-2.06, -77.17
Field Notes
Description:
This is a medium sized stick insect (10 cm/4 in) that is infested with 3 Forcipomyia sp midges. See the midges here: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1922138314
It is dark brown to black under the light brown wings. The back of the head and top of the thorax appear to have a light brown plate with a sharp projection on each side behind the 2nd set of legs. The legs are black with light brown extremeties
Another link from PN: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/16760008
Habitat:
This particular flying stick was found on an outside wall of a new clinic building in a remote jungle village (365 masl).
Notes:
Looking up the identification of this insect, I was surprised to see how many of the fotos showed this species with the same parasite this one shows. The bottom link on the right is from PN's own late Andreas Kay. I thought this was endemic to Ecuador, but according to the map, evidently a strong westerly wind blew one individual over into Brazil spoiling it's endemic status 😊
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