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Stick Insect


Stick Insect
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-16
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/4, 1/2000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-16 1:58
Viewed: 963
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
New Zealand Stick Insects

I was at a wedding today and was standing close to some Totara trees. When I moved away I had this stick insect on my back!!! Yes, my heart did a little beat, but I know these stick insects are harmless and aren’t as scary as our NZ weta.

After the wedding itself I went back to the Totara tree and it was still there, so I picked it up and placed it on this Cabbage tree to take a few photos of it. It was about 6 inches / 15 centimetres long, and very placid – it just wanted to climb up the tree trunk – to get away from me I think.

BTW. If this was a Weta, I would have screamed and definitely wouldn’t have gone back to pick it up to take it’s photo

I didn’t have the right lens for taking such a close-up photo of this green beauty. It isn’t sharp enough but I hope you can see a little of what it was like.

Phasmids or stick insects are a feature of the New Zealand insect fauna because of their size, fearsome appearance, and perfect camouflage.

There are probably more than 20 species present in New Zealand and many have not yet been discovered or described.

They are common throughout both Islands, range from sea level to high altitudes, and occur most frequently on manuka, bush lawyer, astelias, and other endemic bush trees and shrubs.

Some species are green and merge well with foliage; others are brown and drab-coloured and resemble twigs or small branches. Spines and irregularities of the integument add to the general twig-like appearance.

They are vegetarian, eating leaves of the trees they inhabit and are harmless to man.

All New Zealand species are wingless and they range in size from about 1 ½ in. to about 6 in. in body length, with legs correspondingly long.

Eggs are remarkably camouflaged to appear like small pieces of bark or broken twig and they are almost impossible to see in the plant litter on the forest floor.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/S/StickInsects/StickInsects/en
boreocypriensis, Ena, uleko, loot, rkailas has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To uleko: WetaJanice 2 02-19 00:15
To loot: Sticks and StonesJanice 2 02-17 23:39
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Janice!

A perfect capture of this stick insect with excellent details, nice colors and marvelous posture.
TFS
Have a nice weekend!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 61 N: 591] (2458)
  • [2008-02-16 7:44]

Hi Janice,
Beautiful shot of this stick insect.
Good compo and POV!
TFS
Ena

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2008-02-16 13:02]

I've seen a lot of things at weddings but never a Stick Insect, Janice!
This is a fine capture from an excellent POV and with good sharpness, despite the wrong lens. The bark of the cabbage tree that you placed it on looks interesting too.
Thanks for sharing this image of a wedding guest,
Have a good Sunday,
Ivan

Good insect picture. Nice placement, well composed.

Personally, insects 'bug' me! (Haw, haw, haw.. get it? BUG me! I know you get it but sometimes I just gotta be silly me.)

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2008-02-17 4:09]
  • [+]

Hello Janice,
What an impressive Stick insect with a very long body and with eyes at both ends!
I like its pose on the nice bark. Excellent sharp details and fine colour.
Your effort was well worth it! I've only seen a Stick insect once in Spain - would love to see more of them.
I'm ignorant - What is a Weta??
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10033)
  • [2008-02-17 23:29]
  • [+]

Hi Janice

Right lens or not - this shot came out very well with more sharpness or details than you gave yourself credit for. The range of the DOF with the fall-off areas are clearly visible on the bark of the tree in front and behind the insect.

An impressive looking specimen and you captured it well within the vertical composition. The colours are fine, the exposure was spot-on, and the BG is well removed thus making the insect stand out clearly in the shot.

A nice bonus photo as you probably only thought about taking a couple of wedding shots.

Well done and TFS.
Kia Ora
Loot

Hi Janice

I really like your perspective in this one. I cant make head or tail of it!! Very nice shallow DOF, but excellent focus on the subject itself.

TFS and Best
Ravi

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