A Spiny Devil Katydid transforming into an adult near Iquitos, Peru

In preparation for an upcoming return to the Amazonian lowlands of Peru, I was looking through my photos from previous trips and rediscovered this beastie. These katydids are strange enough in their standard adult form, but this one, hanging from the skin while transforming from larva to adult, looks like nothing more than a creature from Alien. Also, it was intermittently wriggling, then hanging still.

comments (14)

John Sullivan

Lion

Oops, put description here by accident. Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago

RMFelix

Lion

Great find, great photo, great moment! cheers* Posted 9 years ago
1. John Sullivan
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks RMFelix! It was quite a sight to see. Posted 9 years ago

Annette Flottwell

Lion

fascinating creature! It would be interesting to see a photo taken 1 hour later, or whatever it takes them to dry Posted 9 years ago
1. John Sullivan
  
  Lion
  
  Agreed! I was too busy looking for snakes and frogs to wait, but that would have been interesting. I've only ever seen one other individual of this species, which was a nymph. Still had the crazy spines, but not yet any wings:
  
  http://www.jungledragon.com/image/35752 Posted 9 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Bizarre! Posted 9 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

The further I zoom in, the freakier it gets, I love it!

Off-topic: As you seem to have visited Peru before, any tips on locations? Posted 9 years ago
1. John Sullivan
  
  Lion
  
  I've been twice, and am about to go for a third time, but all to the same specific area. I've been traveling with Amazon Ecotours (formerly Margarita Tours), which is affiliated with <http://www.projectamazonas.org>. It seems like they might not have a working website at the moment (should be http://www.amazon-ecotours.com, but that site is down). I chose them originally because they have herp-specific trips (a rarity in the wildlife travel world), and then I had such a good time that I went a second time, and soon a third. Their trips visit a couple of the field research stations owned by Project Amazonas, and we stay in each one for four or five days. They are both near the town of Iquitos (you can see more precisely by looking at where my Peru observations are coming from). The species diversity is so high that I literally see new-to-me species every day -- sometimes many, even though I've spent 10+ days in each location. So that is a great area, but I am not familiar with other areas in Peru. Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
2. 1. John Sullivan
    
    Lion
    
    I am told that Amazon Ecotours is working on a new website, and in the meantime their Facebook page is the best place to make contact or learn more: https://www.facebook.com/MTAmazonExpeditions/
    Posted 9 years ago
  2. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thank you, John. We're looking into South America for this year or the next, also checking out Suriname, as well as Peru. From our earlier experience in the Brazilian Amazon, the habitat is not great for birding due to the canopy. That's fine, as we equally love little critters and macro photography. It's just that we need a good area and a specialist guide. The insect, reptile and amphibian aspect of wildlife is so underrated in general eco tourism. We also have to make piece with the very high costs that we've seen so far :) Posted 9 years ago
  3. 1. John Sullivan
      
      Lion
      
      It might be worth contacting the MTAmazonExpeditions people to see if they could help you arrange a private trip. They definitely have good local guides that they could set you up with, and they are good people. They do run some birding-specific trips so I'm sure they have good birding guides (maybe the same people as the herping guides I've had the pleasure of adventuring with). I imagine the plane flights would be your biggest expense, but probably quite a large one from so far away. Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        That's a great idea, will do that. Most specialists we've found online operate in a group of tourists and then still charge thousands for a week or so, which is excluding flights. That's very steep. Plus, call us selfish, but we don't like to do the actual hiking in groups. There's always somebody blocking me, or it is I that is slowing down the group, feeling rushed. We've done three large group travels in the past, and learned our lesson...never again. Thanks for that tip, we'll look into it. Posted 9 years ago
      2. John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        I'm not a fan of group tours either, in general. These particular tours are nice because you are stationed in the same place for several days, and there are many trails from the field station. You can go out with others or by yourself as you please. Posted 9 years ago

Tarsier

Lion

Fantastic shot! Posted 9 years ago

The Spiny Devil Katydid

Panacanthus cuspidatus is one of the conehead katydids, all of which have a spike sticking up from the tops of the heads. In this case, the spike is a huge, three-pointed red horn. The rest of the head and the legs are also covered by spines. It uses its extremely powerful jaws to feed on forest seeds and fruits. Unlike most katydids, this one can easily break human skin with its bite.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Grasshoppers And Crickets

Species identified by John Sullivan